Then I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, and I presented to them the letters from the king. The king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.

<p class="bodytext">Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah worked on the Jeshanah Gate.<n id="1" /> They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab worked on another section and the Tower of the Fire Pots.

<p class="bodytext">Malkijah son of Recab, head of the district of Beth Hakkerem, worked on the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext"><v id="(3:33)" /><n id="1" /> Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews,

<p class="bodytext">So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height.<n id="1" /> The people were enthusiastic in their work.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Our adversaries also boasted,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Before they are aware or anticipate<n id="2" /> anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So I stationed people at the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places.<n id="1" /> I stationed the people by families, with their swords, spears, and bows.

Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there with us. Our God will fight for us!&#8221;p>

Even I and my relatives<n id="1" /> and my associates<n id="2" /> are lending them money and grain. But let us abandon this practice of seizing collateral!<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">They replied, &#8220;We will return these things,<n id="1" /> and we will no longer demand anything from them. We will do just as you say.&#8221; Then I called the priests and made the wealthy and the officials<n id="2" /> swear to do what had been promised.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in light of these actions of theirs &#8211; also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to scare me!p>

So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)

Ezra blessed the <sc>LORDsc>, the great God, and all the people replied &#8220;Amen! Amen!&#8221; as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the <sc>LORDsc> with their faces to the ground.p>

You split the sea before them, and they crossed through<n id="1" /> the sea on dry ground! But you threw their pursuers<n id="2" /> into the depths, like a stone into surging<n id="3" /> waters.

You guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night to illumine for them the path they were to travel.p>

You made known to them your holy Sabbath; you issued commandments, statutes, and law to them through<n id="1" /> Moses your servant.

Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law. They have not paid attention to your commandments or your testimonies by which you have solemnly admonished them.

We also accept responsibility for<n id="1" /> bringing the first fruits of our land and the first fruits of every fruit tree year by year to the temple of the <sc>LORDsc>.

<t /><p class="bodytext">At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem,<n id="1" /> they sought out the Levites from all the places they lived<n id="2" /> to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with songs of thanksgiving and songs accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres.