4:5. Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders.
4:6. So we built the wall, and joined it all together unto the half thereof: and the heart of the people was excited to work.
4:7. And it came to pa.s.s, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Azotians heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and the breaches began to be closed, that they were exceedingly angry.
4:8. And they all a.s.sembled themselves together, to come, and to fight against Jerusalem, and to prepare ambushes.
4:9. And we prayed to our G.o.d, and set watchmen upon the wall day and night against them.
4:10. And Juda said: The strength of the bearer of burdens is decayed, and the rubbish is very much, and we shall not be able to build the wall.
4:11. And our enemies said: Let them not know, nor understand, till we come in the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.
4:12. And it came to pa.s.s, that when the Jews that dwelt by them came and told us ten times, out of all the places from whence they came to us,
4:13. I set the people in the place behind the wall round about in order, with their swords, and spears, and bows.
4:14. And I looked and rose up: and I said to the chief men and the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: be not afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your houses.
4:15. And it came to pa.s.s, when our enemies heard that the thing had been told us, that G.o.d defeated their counsel. And we returned all of us to the walls, every man to his work.
4:16. And it came to pa.s.s from that day forward, that half of their young men did the work, and half were ready for to fight, with spears, and shields, and bows, and coats of mail, and the rulers were behind them in all the house of Juda.
4:17. Of them that built on the wall and that carried burdens, and that laded: with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he held a sword.
4:18. For every one of the builders was girded with a sword about his reins. And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me.
4:19. And I said to the n.o.bles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall one far from another:
4:20. In what place soever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, run all thither unto us: our G.o.d will fight for us.
4:21. And let us do the work: and let one half of us hold our spears from the rising of the morning, till the stars appear.
4:22. At that time also I said to the people: Let every one with his servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in the night, and by day, to work.
4:23. Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped himself when he was to be washed.
2 Esdras Chapter 5
Nehemias blameth the rich, for their oppressing the poor. His exhortation, and bounty to his countrymen.
5:1. Now there was a great cry of the people, and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
5:2. And there were some that said: Our sons and our daughters are very many: let us take up corn for the price of them, and let us eat and live.
5:3. And there were some that said: Let us mortgage our lands, and our vineyards, and our houses, and let us take corn because of the famine.
5:4. And others said: Let us borrow money for the king"s tribute, and let us give up our fields and vineyards:
5:5. And now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren: and our children as their children. Behold we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters, and some of our daughters are bondwomen already, neither have we wherewith to redeem them, and our fields and our vineyards other men possess.
5:6. And I was exceedingly angry when I heard their cry according to these words.
5:7. And my heart thought with myself: and I rebuked the n.o.bles and magistrates, and said to them: Do you every one exact usury of your brethren? And I gathered together a great a.s.sembly against them,
5:8. And I said to them: We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles: and will you then sell your brethren, for us to redeem them? And they held their peace, and found not what to answer.
5:9. And I said to them: The thing you do is not good: why walk you not in the fear of our G.o.d, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles our enemies?
5:10. Both I and my brethren, and my servants, have lent money and corn to many: let us all agree not to call for it again; let us forgive the debt that is owing to us.
5:11. Restore ye to them this day their fields, and their vineyards, and their oliveyards, and their houses: and the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, which you were wont to exact of them, give it rather for them.
5:12. And they said: We will restore, and we will require nothing of them: and we will do as thou sayest. And I called the priests and took an oath of them, to do according to what I had said.
5:13. Moreover I shook my lap, and said: So may G.o.d shake every man that shall not accomplish this word, out of his house, and out of his labours, thus may he be shaken out, and become empty. And all the mult.i.tude said: Amen. And they praised G.o.d. And the people did according to what was said.
5:14. And from the day, in which the king commanded me to be governor in the land of Juda, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, I and my brethren did not eat the yearly allowance that was due to the governors.
5:15. But the former governors that had been before me, were chargeable to the people, and took of them in bread, and wine, and in money every day forty sicles: and their officers also oppressed the people. But I did not so for the fear of G.o.d.
5:16. Moreover I built in the work of the wall, and I bought no land, and all my servants were gathered together to the work.
5:17. The Jews also and the magistrates to the number of one hundred and fifty men, were at my table, besides them that came to us from among the nations that were round about us.
5:18. And there was prepared for me day be day one ox, and six choice rams, besides fowls, and once in ten days I gave store of divers wines, and many other things: yet I did not require my yearly allowance as governor: for the people were very much impoverished.
5:19. Remember me, O my G.o.d, for good according to all that I have done for this people.
2 Esdras Chapter 6
The enemies seek to terrify Nehemias. He proceedeth and finisheth the wall.
6:1. And it came to pa.s.s, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and Gossem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates,)
6:2. Sanaballat and Gossem sent to me, saying: Come, and let us make a league together in the villages, in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
6:3. And I sent messengers to them, saying: I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down, lest it be neglected whilst I come, and go down to you.
6:4. And they sent to me according to this word, four times: and I answered them after the same manner.
6:5. And Sanaballat sent his servant to me the fifth time according to the former word, and he had a letter in his hand written in this manner:
6:6. It is reported amongst the Gentiles, and Gossem hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, and therefore thou buildest the wall, and hast a mind to set thyself king over them: for which end
6:7. Thou hast also set up prophets, to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying: There is a king in Judea. The king will hear of these things: therefore come now, that we may take counsel together.
6:8. And I sent to them, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest: but thou feignest these things out of thy own heart.