Nehemiah 10
1 Now they that sealed were Nehemiah the Tirshatha the sonne of Hachaliah, and Zidkiiah,
(This is a list/These are the names) of those who signed the agreement: I, Nehemiah, the governor; and also Zedekiah.
2 Seraiah, Azariah, Ieremiah,
The priests who signed it were: Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchiah,
Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Merimoth, Obadiah,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abiiah, Miamin,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these are the Priestes.
Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.
9 And the Leuites: Ieshua the sonne of Azaniah, Binnui, of the sonnes of Henadad, Kadmiel.
The [other] descendants of Levi who signed it were: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel,
10 And their brethren Shebaniah, Hodiiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanun,
Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.
14 The chiefe of the people were Parosh, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
The Israeli leaders who signed it were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16 Adoniah, Biguai, Adin,
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkiiah, Azzur,
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Iaddua,
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahiiah, Hanan, Anan,
Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.
28 And the rest of the people, the Priestes, the Leuites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all that were separated from the people of the landes vnto the Lawe of God, their wiues, their sonnes, and their daughters, all that coulde vnderstande.
Then the rest of the people also made a solemn agreement. The people who did it included priests, temple gatekeepers, singers, and temple workers. They also included all the men from other countries who had separated themselves from the other foreigners living in Israel. These men, along with their wives, their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand [what they were doing, were people who wanted to obey God’s laws].
29 The chiefe of them receiued it for their brethren, and they came to the curse and to the othe to walke in Gods Law, which was giuen by Moses the seruant of God, to obserue and doe all the commandements of the Lord our God, and his iudgements and his statutes:
They all joined with their leaders in making this solemn agreement. They agreed to obey all the laws that God had given to Moses. They agreed to obey everything that Yahweh our God had commanded, and all his regulations and instructions. [And this is what they promised to do: ]
30 And that we would not giue our daughters to the people of the lande, neither take their daughters for our sonnes.
“We will not allow our daughters to marry people who live in this land [who do not worship Yahweh], and we will not allow our sons to marry them.
31 And if the people of the lande brought ware on the Sabbath, or any vitailes to sell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy dayes: and that we would let the seuenth yeere be free, and the debtes of euery person.
“If people from other countries who live in this land bring us grain or other things to sell to us on Sabbath days or any other sacred day, we will not buy anything from them. And in every seventh year, we will not plant any crops, and we will (cancel all debts/declare that people will no longer have to pay back what they owe us).
32 And we made statutes for our selues to giue by the yeere the thirde part of a shekel for the seruice of the house of our God,
“We also promise that every year we will pay (one-eighth of an ounce/4 grams) of silver for the work of taking care of the temple.
33 For the shewbread, and for the daily offring, and for the daily burnt offring, the Sabbaths, the newe moones, for the solemne feastes, and for the thinges that were sanctified, and for the sinne offrings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the worke of the house of our God.
With that money they can buy these things: The sacred bread [that is placed before God], the grain that is burned [on the altar] each day, the lambs that were completely burned [on the altar], the sacred offerings for the Sabbath days and for celebrating each new moon and other festivals that God told us to celebrate, and other offerings that are dedicated to God, the animals to be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the Israeli people, and anything else that is needed for the work of taking care of the temple.
34 We cast also lottes for the offering of the wood, euen the Priestes, the Leuites and the people to bring it into the house of our God, by the house of our fathers, yeerely at the times appointed, to burne it vpon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Lawe,
“Each year the priests, the [other] descendants of Levi who help the priests, and the rest of us will (cast lots/throw marked stones) to determine [for that year] which clans will provide wood to burn on the altar the sacrifices that are offered to Yahweh our God, in order to do what was written in the laws [God gave to Moses].
35 And to bring the first fruites of our land, and the first of all the fruites of all trees, yeere by yeere, into the house of the Lord,
“We promise that each year each family will take to the temple an offering from the first grain that we harvest and from the first fruit that grows on our trees [that year].
36 And the first borne of our sonnes, and of our cattel, as it is written in the Lawe, and the first borne of our bullockes and of our sheepe, to bring it into the house of our God, vnto ye Priests that minister in the house of our God,
“Also, we will take to the priests at the temple our firstborn sons and dedicate them to God. And we will also bring firstborn calves and lambs and baby goats [to be offered as sacrifices]. That is what is written in God’s laws [that we must do].
37 And that we should bring the first fruite of our dough, and our offrings, and the fruite of euery tree, of wine and of oyle, vnto the Priests, to the chambers of the house of our God: and the tithes of our lande vnto the Leuites, that the Leuites might haue the tithes in all the cities of our trauaile.
“We will also take to the priests at the temple the flour made from the first grain [that we harvest each year], and our other offerings of wine, [olive] oil, and fruit. We will also take to the descendants of Levi [who help the priests] the tithes/10% of [the crops that we grow on] our land, because they are the ones who collect the tithes in all the villages where we work/live.
38 And the Priest, the sonne of Aaron shall be with the Leuites, when ye Leuites take tithes, and the Leuites shall bring vp the tenth parte of the tithes vnto the house of our God, vnto the chambers of the treasure house.
The priests who are descendants of Aaron will be with the [other] descendants of Levi and supervise them when they collect the tithes. Then the descendants of Levi must take 10% of the things that people bring and put them in the storerooms in the temple.
39 For the children of Israel, and the children of Leui shall bring vp the offerings of the corne, of the wine, and of the oyle, vnto the chabers: and there shalbe the vessels of the Sanctuarie, and the Priestes that minister, and the porters, and the fingers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.
The descendants of Levi and [some of] the other Israeli people must take 10% of the offerings of grain, wine, and [olive] oil to the storerooms where the various utensils that are used in the temple are kept. That is the place where the priests who are serving at that time, the temple guards, and those who sing in the temple choir live. [We promise that] we will not neglect [taking care of the temple of our God].”
