1 Tad Ezra, piecēlies no tempļa priekšas, devās uz Joanana, Eliasiba dēla, mitekli; 2 tur uzturēdamies, viņš nedz maizi baudīja, nedz ūdeni dzēra žēlabās par tautas milzu nekrietnībām. 3 Un visā Jūdejas zemē un Jeruzālemē tika izziņots, ka visiem no gūsta pārnākušajiem jāsapulcējas Jeruzālemē; 4 tiem, kuri divās vai trīs dienās neatsauksies, pēc vecajo priekšsēžu lēmuma tiks atsavināti īpašumi un viņi paši vairs neskaitīsies gūstekņu pulkā.
5 Tā Jeruzālemē trīs dienās sanāca ļaudis no Jūdas un Benjāmina cilts (tas notika devītā mēneša divdesmitajā dienā), 6 un viss pūlis sēdēja laukumā pie tempļa, drebēdami ziemas aukstumā. 7 Tad Ezra piecēlās un viņiem teica: “Jūs esat rīkojušies pret bauslību un ņēmuši kopdzīvei cittautiešu sievas, uzliekot grēku Israēlam. 8 Nu rādiet atzīšanu un godu Kungam, mūsu tēvu Dievam, 9 un īstenojiet viņa gribu – nošķirieties no pārējām pasaules tautām un cittautiešu sievām.” 10 Un viss pūlis atsaucās un skaļā balsī teica: “Mēs darīsim, kā tu sacīji. 11 Tomēr pūlis ir liels, un ir ziemas laiks, mēs nespējam stāvēt zem klajas debess, sameklēšana nav nedz vienas, nedz divu dienu darbs, jo mūsu grēki ir visnotaļ lieli. 12 Lai ļaudīm tiek nozīmēti vadītāji un lai visi mūsu apmetņu iedzīvotāji, kuriem ir cittautiešu sievas, ierodas savā laikā 13 kopā ar katras vietas vecajiem un tiesnešiem, līdz Kunga dusmas par šo lietu taps kliedētas.” 14 To uzņēmās Jonata, Azaēla dēls, un Jezija, Tokana dēls, arī Mosollams un Levis, un Sabatajs līdzēja viņiem. 15 Un tie, kas no gūsta atgriezušies, to visu paveica. 16 Un priesteris Ezra izvēlējās tēvu dzimtu vadītājus, katru minot vārdā, un viņi sanāca uz apspriedi desmitā mēneša jaunā mēnesī, lai lietu novērtētu. 17 Un šī lieta par vīriem, kuriem bija cittautiešu sievas, bija galā līdz pirmā mēneša jaunam mēnesim.
18 Un arī starp priesteriem bija tādi, kuriem bija cittautiešu sievas: 19 no Jozuas, Josedeka dēla, dēliem un no viņa brāļiem Masēa un Elāzārs, Joribs un Jodans – 20 tie deva rokas savu sievu aizraidīšanai un kazlēnu ziedošanai, lai savu bezprātu izpirktu. 21 No Emmēra dēliem – Hananja un Zabdajs, Mans un Samajs, Iēls un Azarja. 22 Un no Faisūra dēliem Elionajs, Masija, Ismaēls un Natanaēls, Okidēls un Salta. 23 No levītiem – Jozabds un Semeijs, Kolijs (viņš arī Kalita) un Patajs, Oūda un Joana. 24 No svēto psalmu izpildītājiem – Eliasibs, Bakhūrs. 25 No durvju sargiem – Šallūms un Tolbans. 26 No israēliešiem: no Fora dēliem – Jerma un Jezija, Melhija un Miamins, Elāzārs un Asibija, un Banaja. 27 No Ēlama dēliem – Matanija un Zaharija, Jezriēls un Obadijs, Jeremots un Elija. 28 Un no Zamota dēliem – Eliada, Eliasims, Otonija, Jarimots un Zabats, un Serdaja. 29 Un no Bēbaja dēliem – Joans un Hananja, Zabds un Ematis. 30 Un no Mani dēliem – Olams, Mamuhs, Jedajs, Jasubs un Asaēls, un Jeremots. 31 Un no Adi dēliem – Nats un Mosija, Lakūns un Naīds, Beskaspazmijs un Sestēls, Balnūs un Manasēa. 32 No Anana dēliem – Eliona un Asaja, Melhija un Sabaja, un Simons Hosamajs. 33 No Asoma dēliem – Maltannajs un Matatija, Sabanajūs un Elifalats, Manass un Semejs. 34 No Bānija dēliem – Jeremija, Momdijs, Maērs, Juēls, Mamdajs un Pedija, Anoss, Karabasions un Eliasibs, Mamnitanaims, Eliasis, Bannūs, Elialis, Somejs, Selemija, Natanija. No Ezora dēliem – Sesis, Ezrils, Azaēls, Samats, Zambris, Josēps. 35 Un no Noma dēliem – Mazitija, Zabadaja, Ēdajs, Juēls, Banaja. 36 Šie visi dzīvoja ar cittautiešu sievām un aizraidīja tās kopā ar bērniem.
37 Tā Israēla priesteri un levīti, un Israēla dēli apmetās Jeruzālemē un tās apkārtnē septītā mēneša jaunā mēnesī katrs savā dzīves vietā. 38 Un visi ļaudis vienprātībā sanāca tempļa austrumu puses ieejas priekšā 39 un sacīja Ezram, virspriesterim un Dieva Vārda skaidrotājam, lai tas atnes Israēla Dieva Kunga doto Mozus bauslību. 40 Un priesteris Ezra atnesa ļaudīm bauslību, katram vīram, katrai sievai un visiem priesteriem ko klausīties septītā mēneša jaunā mēnesī. 41 Un viņš lasīja laukumā pie tempļa ieejas no rīta līdz pusdienlaikam vīriem un sievām, un pūlis ieklausījās bauslības vārdā. 42 Priesteris un Dieva bauslības lasītājs Ezra nostājās uz izveidota koka paaugstinājuma, 43 un ar viņu kopā tur bija: labajā pusē – Matatija, Sammūs, Hananja, Azarja, Ūrija, Ezekija, Bālsams, 44 kreisajā – Fadajs, Misaēls, Melhija, Lotasūbs, Nabarija, Zaharija. 45 Ezram pūļa priekšā rokās bija bauslības grāmata, viņš cienīgi sēdēja visiem iepretim, 46 bet visi pārējie bauslības skaidrojuma brīdī stāvēja kājās. Ezra pateicās Kungam, visaugstajam Dievam, Pulku Kungam, Visuma Valdītājam, 47 un viss pūlis sauca āmen, un visi, rokas augšup celdami un pie zemes krizdami, zemojās Kungam. 48 Jozua un Anniūts, Sarabija, Jadins, Jakūbs, Sabatajs, Autaja, Majanna un Kalita, Azarja un Jozabds, Hananja, Falija un levīti mācīja Kunga bauslību un vienlaikus skaidroja lasījumu. 49 Tad Atarats sacīja Ezram, virspriesterim un Dieva Vārda lasītājam, un levītiem, Dieva bauslības mācītājiem, visiem: 50 “Šī diena ir svēta Kungam – un visi raudāja, bauslību klausoties, – 51 ejiet un ēdiet treknu, un dzeriet saldu, un dodiet devumu trūcīgajiem, 52 jo šī diena ir svēta Kungam; un neskumstiet, jo Kungs cels jūs godā!” 53 Arī levīti uzmundrināja tautu, sacīdami: “Svēta ir šī diena, neskumstiet!” 54 Un visi devās ēst un dzert, un priecāties, un dot devumu trūcīgajiem, un līksmība bija liela, 55 jo tie uzņēma vārdus, kas viņiem tika mācīti, un tapa vienoti.
1 Then Ezra went from the court of the Temple into the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib 2 and spent the night there grieving over the people's terrible violation of the Law. He did not eat or drink anything.
3 A message was sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah, calling all those who had returned from exile to meet in Jerusalem, 4 by order of the leaders of the people. If anyone failed to come within two or three days, his cattle would be confiscated, and he would lose his right to be a member of the community.
5 Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem 6 and assembled in the Temple square. Everyone was shivering from the cold because it was wintertime.
7 Then Ezra stood up and spoke to them, “You have broken the Law and brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women. 8 Now then, tell the truth and confess your sins to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, 9 and do what he requires. Separate yourselves from the foreigners living in our land and get rid of your foreign wives.”
10 The people shouted in reply, “We will do whatever you say.” 11 But they added, “The crowd is too big, and it's wintertime. We can't stand here in the open like this. This isn't something that can be settled in one or two days, since so many of us are involved in this sin. 12 Let our officials stay in Jerusalem and take charge of the matter. Then let anyone who has a foreign wife come at an appointed time, 13 together with the leaders and the judges of his city. In this way God's anger over this situation will be turned away.” 14 Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah assumed responsibility for the plan; and Meshullam, Levi, and Shabbethai served with them as judges.
15 The returned exiles carried out the investigation in full. 16 Ezra the priest appointed men from among the heads of the clans and recorded their names. On the first day of the tenth month they began their investigation. 17 And within the next three months they investigated all the cases of men with foreign wives.
The Men Who Had Foreign Wives
(Ezra 10.18-44)18 The following is a list of the men who had foreign wives:
Priests, listed by clans:19 Clan of Joshua and his brothers, sons of Jozadak: Maaseiah, Eliezar, Jarib, and Jodan. 20 They promised to divorce their wives, and they offered rams as a sacrifice for their sins.
21 Clan of Immer: Hanani, Zebadiah, Manes, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Azariah
22 Clan of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nathanael, Okidelus, and Elasah
23 LevitesJozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Jonah
24 MusiciansEliashib and Bacchurus
25 Temple guardsShallum and Telem
26 OthersClan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Milelos, Eleazar, Asebiah, Benaiah
27 Clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jezriel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah
28 Clan of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Othoniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Zerdaiah
29 Clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Emathis
30 Clan of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth
31 Clan of Addi: Naathus, Moossias, Laccunus, Naidus, Bescaspasmys, Sesthel, Belnuus, and Manasseas
32 Clan of Annan: Elionas, Asiah, Melchiah, Sabbaiah, and Simon Chosamaeus
33 Clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Manasseh, and Shimei
34 Clan of Bani: Jeremai, Maadai, Amram, Joel, Mamdai, Bedeiah, Vaniah, Carabasion, Eliashib, Machnadebai, Eliasis, Binnui, Elialis, Shimei, Shelemiah, and Nathaniah
Clan of Ezora: Shashai, Azarel, Azael, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Joseph
35 Clan of Nebo: Mattithiah, Zabad, Iddo, Joel, and Benaiah
36 All these men had foreign wives. They divorced them and sent them and their children away.
Ezra Reads the Law to the People
(Nehemiah 7.73—8.12)37 The priests, the Levites, and many of the ordinary people of Israel settled in Jerusalem and its vicinity. By the seventh month the other Israelites were all settled in their towns. On the first day of that month 38 they all assembled in Jerusalem in the square just inside the east gate of the Temple. 39 They asked Ezra, the High Priest and scholar of the Law which the Lord had given Israel through Moses, to bring the book of the Law. 40 So Ezra brought it to the place where all the people—men, women, and all the priests—had gathered to hear it. 41 There in the square by the gate he read the Law to them from dawn until noon, and they all listened attentively.
42 Ezra was standing on a wooden platform that had been built for the occasion. 43 The following men stood at his right: Mattathiah, Shema, Ananiah, Azariah, Uriah, Hezekiah, and Baalsamos; 44 and the following stood at his left: Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Lothasubus, Nabariah, and Zechariah.
45 Ezra took his seat on the platform in a prominent place where everyone could see him. As soon as he took the book of the Law 46 and opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra said, “Praise the Lord, God Most High, God Almighty, Ruler of all.”
47 All the people raised their arms in the air and answered, “Amen!” They knelt down in worship, with their faces to the ground.
48 The following Levites taught the Law of the Lord to the people: Jeshua, Anniuth, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maiannas, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Peliah. They read the Law to the people and explained what was read.
49-50 When the people heard what the Law required, they were so moved that they began to weep. The governor said to Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law, and to all the Levites who were teaching the people, “This day is holy to the Lord; 51 go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who don't have any. 52 Today is holy to the Lord, so don't be sad. He will restore your former glory.”
53 The Levites gave the command to all the people: “This day is holy; do not be sad.” 54 So all the people went home and joyfully ate and drank and shared what they had with those who had nothing. They celebrated 55 because they understood what had been read to them.
Then they assembled….
