The woordis of Neemye, sone of Elchie. And it is do in the monith of December, the twentithe ȝer, and I was in the burȝ toun of Susis; and ther cam to me Annam, oon of my brethern, he and the men of Juda; and I askide hem of Jewis, that abiden stille, and laften ouer of the caitifte, and of Jerusalem. And thei seiden to me, Thei that abiden stille, and ben laft of the caitifte there in the prouynce, ben in gret affliccioun, and in repref; and the wal of Jerusalem is scatered, and his ȝatis ben brend with fijr. And whan I hadde herd such maner woordis, I sat and wepte, and weilide manye daȝes, and fastide, and preȝede befor the face of God of heuene; and seide, I beseche, Lord God of heuene, strong, gret, and ferful, that kepist couenaunt and merci with hem, that loouen thee, and kepen thi maundemens; be thi ere maad herknende, and thi eȝen opened, that thou here the orisoun of thi seruaunt, in the whiche I preyȝe befor thee to dai, nyȝt and dai, for the sonys of Irael, thi seruauns, and I knowleche for the synnes of the sones of Irael, in the whiche thei synneden to thee; and I and the hous of my fader han synned; bi vanyte wee ben born doun, and wee han not kept the heste, and cerimoines, and domus, that thou comaundedest to Moises, thi seruaunt. Haue mynde of the woord, that thou comaundedest to thi seruaunt, seiende, Whan ȝee han trespasid, I shal scatere ȝou in to puplis; and if ȝee be turned aȝeen to me, that ȝee kepe myn hestus, and don hem, also if ȝee weren lad awei to the endis of heuene, thennus I shal gadere ȝou togidere, and leden in to the place, that I ches, that my name dwelle there. And wee thi seruauns, and thi puple, whom thou hast boȝt in thi grete strengthe, and in thi stronge hond. I beseche, Lord, be thin ere takende heede to the orisoun of thi seruaunt, and to the orisoun of thi seruauns, that wiln dreden thi name; and dresse thi seruaunt to dai, and ȝif to hym merci befor this man. I forsothe was the booteler of the king.
It is do forsothe in the monith of Aprill, the twentithe ȝer of Artaxerses, the king, and win was befor hym, and I heuede vp the win, and ȝaf to the king, and I was astoneid beforn his face. And the king seide to me, Whi is thi chere dreri, sithen I see thee not sijk? That is not in vein; but I wot not the euel that is in thin herte. And I dradde ful myche; and I seide to the king, King, with outen ende liue; whi shulde not my chere sorewin priueli? for the cite of the hous of the sepulcris of my fader is desert, and his ȝatus ben brent with fir. And the king seith to me, For what thing askist thou? And I preȝede the God of heuene, and seide to the king, If it is seen good to the king, and if it plese to thi seruauns befor thi face, that thou sende me in to Jude, I beseche, to the cite of the sepulcre of my fader, and I shal bilden it. And the king seide to me, and the quen that sat biside hym, Vnto what time shal be thi wei, and whanne shalt thou come aȝeen? And I pleside befor the chere of the king, and he sente me, and I sette hym a time; and seide to the king, If to the king it is seen good, lettris ȝiue he to me to the dukis of the regioun beȝonde the flod, that thei lede me ouer, to the time I come in to Jude; and a lettre to Asaf, kepere of the wilde wode of the king, that he ȝiue to me trees, that I mowe couere the ȝatis of the tour of the hous, and of the wal of the cite, and the hous that I shal come in. And the king ȝaf to me, after the goode hond of my God with me. And I cam to the dukis of the regioun beȝunde the flod, and I ȝaf to hym the epistolis of the king. Forsothe the king hadde sent with me prinsis of kniȝtus, and horsemen. And Sanaballath Oronyte, and Tobie, seruaunt Amonyte, herden, and ben euele paȝid bi gret sorewe, that a man was come, that shulde seche the prosperite of the sonus of Irael. And I cam in to Jerusalem, and I was there thre daȝes. And I ros the nyȝt, and fewe men with me, and I shewide to no man, what God hadde ȝiuen in myn herte, that I shulde do in Jerusalem; and there was noon helpely beeste to me, but the beeste that I sat on. And I wente out bi the ȝate of the valei the nyȝt, and beforn the welle of the dragoun, and at the drit ȝate; and I beheeld the wal of Jerusalem scaterid, and his ȝatis wastid with fijr. And I passide ouer to the ȝate of the welle, and to the watir cundict of the king, and ther was no place to the beeste, that I sat on that he myȝte passen ouer; and I steȝide vp bi the strem the nyȝt, and I beheeld the wal, and turned aȝeen I cam to the ȝate of the valei, and am comen aȝeen. The maister iuges forsothe wisten not, whider I was go, or what I wolde do; but and to the Jewis, and to the prestus, and to the most worshipeful men, and to the maister iuges, and to the tothere that maden the werc, vnto that of the placis no thing I hadde shewid. And I seide to hem, Ȝee han knowen the affliccioun, in whiche we ben, for Jerusalem is desert, and his ȝatis ben wastid with fijr; cometh, and bilde we vp the wallis of Jerusalem, and be we no more repref. And I shewide to hem the hond of my God, that it was good with me, and the woordis of the king, that he spac to me; and I sey, Rise we, and bilde we; and the hondis of hem ben coumfortid in goode. Forsothe Sanballath Oronyte, and Tobias, seruaunt Amonyte, and Gosem Arabs, herden, and scorneden vs, and despiseden; and seiden, What is this thing that ȝee don? whether aȝen the king ȝee rebellen? And I ȝeld to them a woord, and seide to them, God of heuene, he helpith vs, and wee his seruauns ben; rise wee, and bilde wee; to ȝou forsothe is no part and riȝtwisnesse and mynde in Jerusalem.
And Eliasif, the grete prest, ros, and his brethern, and prestus, and thei bilden vp the ȝatis of the floc; thei halewiden it, and setten the ȝate leuys of it, and vn to the tour of an hundrid cubitus thei halewiden it, vn to the tour of Ananehel. And beside hym the men of Jericho bilden; and biside hem bilde Zaccur, the sone of Amri. The ȝate forsothe of fisshis bilden vp the sonus of Azanaa; thei couereden it, and setten his ȝate leues, and lokis, and heengis. And biside hem bilde Marimuth, the sone of Vri, sone of Accus. And biside hym bilde Mosolla, the sone of Barachie, sone of Mesezebeel. And biside hym bilde Sadoc, the sone of Baana. And biside hym bilden Thecuenus; forsothe the more wirshipeful men of hem vnder putten not ther neckis in the werc of the Lord ther God. And the olde ȝate bilden vp Joiada, the sone of Fasia, and Mosollam, the sone of Besoida; and thei couereden it, and setten his ȝate leuis, and lokis, and heengis. And biside hem bilden Melchia Gabonite, and Jaddon Methonothite, men of Gabaon and Masfa, for the duk that was in the regioun beȝonde the flod. And biside hym bilde Eziel, the sone of Aria, goldsmith; and biside hym bilde Annany, the sone of a piment makere; and thei laften Jerusalem vnto the wal of the braddere strete. And biside hym bilde Rafaia, the sone of Hahul, prince of a toun of Jerusalem. And biside hym bilde Jeieda, the sone of Ramath, aȝen his hous; and biside hym bilde Accus, the sone of Azebonie. The myddel forsothe part of the toun bilde Melchias, the sone of Herem, and Asub, the sone of Feth Moab; and the tour of ouenus. Biside hym bilde Sellum, the sone of Aloes, prince of the myddel part of a toun of Jerusalem, and he and his sonus. And the ȝate of the valei bilde Annun, and the dwelleris of Sanoe; thei bilden it, and setten his ȝate leuis, and lokis, and henglis, and a thousend cubitus in the wal vnto the ȝate of the dunge hil. And the ȝate of the dunge hil bilde Melchias, the sone of Recab, prince of the toun of Bethacharem; he bilde it, and sette his ȝate leues, and lokis, and henglis. And the ȝate of the welle bilde Sellum, the sone of Colosai, prince of the toun of Masfa; he bilde it, and couerede, and sette his ȝate leuis, and lockis, and heengis; and the wallis of the fish pond of Siloe in to the ȝerd of the king, and vn to the grees of the king, that comen doun fro the cite of Dauid. After hym bilde Neemyas, the sone of Asboc, the prince of the half part of the toun of Bethsuri, vnto aȝen the sepulcre of Dauid, and vnto the fish pond, that bi gret werc is maad, and vnto the hous of stronge men. After hym bilden Leuitus; and after hem Reum, the sone of Benny. After hym bilde Azebias, prince of the half part of the toun of Cheile, in his toun. After hym bilden the brethern of hem, Bethin, the sone of Enadad, prince of the half part of Cheila. And Aser, the sonn of Josue, prince of Masfa, bilde beside hym the secunde mesure aȝen the steȝing vp of the most fast corner. After hym in the hil bilde Baruch, the sone of Sachaie, the secunde mesure fro the corner vnto the ȝate of the hous of Eliazif, grete prest. After hym bilde Marimuth, the sone of Vrie, sone of Accur, the secunde mesure fro the ȝate of the hous of Eliasif, to the time that the hous of Eliasif were straȝt out. And aftir hym bildeden the prestus, men of the wilde feldis of Jordan. After hym bilden Beniamyn and Asub aȝen ther hous; and after hym bilde Asarias, the sone of Moosie, sone of Ananye, aȝen his hous. Aftir hym bilde Benni, the sone of Senadad, the secunde mesure fro the hous of Azarie vnto the bowing and vnto the corner. Falel, the sone of Osi, aȝen the bowing, and the tour that stant aboue, fro the heȝe hous of the king, that is in the porche of the prisoun; and after hym Fadaia, the sone of Feros. Gabonites, water bereris forsothe dwelten in Ofel aȝen the ȝate of watris at the est, and the tour that aboue semede. After hym bilden Thecuynes the secunde mesure forn aȝen, fro the grete tour and stondende aboue vnto the wal of the temple. Aboue forsothe at the horse ȝate bildeden the prestus, eche aȝen his hous. Aftir hem bilde Seddo, the sone of Enner, aȝen his hous. After hym bilde Semeia, the sone of Sechenye, kepere of the est ȝate. After hym bilde Ananye, the sone of Selemye, and Anon, the sone of Selon, the sixte, the secunde mesure. After hym bilde Mosollam, the sone of Barachie, aȝen his tresorie. After hym bilde Melchias, the sone of a goldsmith, vnto the hous of sodeknys, and of the men sellende sheldis aȝen the judicial ȝate, and vnto the supping place of the corner. And withinne the supping place of the corner in to the ȝate of the king bilden craftusmen and marchandus.
It is do forsothe, whan Sanaballath hadde herd, that we schulden bilde the wal, he wrathide gretli, and, moued ful myche, scornede the Jewis. And he seide beforn his brethern, and the court of Samaritanys, What do the Jewis ful feble? Whether shuln leuen hem the Jentilis? Whether shul thei sacrifien and fulfillen in o dai? Whether thei shuln moun bilden vp stonis of the hillokis of pouder, that ben brent? But and Tobias Amonite seith to his neȝhebores, Bilde thei; if ther steȝe vp a fox, he shal lepe ouer ther ston wal. And Neemie seide, Here thou, oure God, for we ben maad despit; turne the repref vp on the hed of hem, and ȝif hem in to despising in the lond of caitifte; ne couere thou the wickenesse of hem, and the synnus of hem befor thi face be not don awei; for thei scorneden the bilders. And so we bilden the wal, and al we ioyneden togidere vnto the half part, and the herte of the puple is stirid to werken. It is do forsothe, whan Sanaballath hadde herd, and Tobias, and Arabes, and Amanytes, and Azozie, that the gap of the wal of Jerusalem was maad al hol, and that the chinys or crauasis begunnen to be closid, thei ben ful myche wroth. And alle thei ben gedered togidere, that thei comen and fiȝte aȝen Jerusalem, and casten busshemens. And we preȝeden the Lord oure God, and we setten keperis vp on the wal dai and nyȝt aȝen hem. Forsothe Judas seide, The strengthe of the berere is feblid, and there is to miche erthe, and we shul not moun bilden vp the wal. And oure enemis seiden, Wite thei not, and vnknowe thei, to the time that we comen in to the middel of hem, and slen hem, and make the werc to cesen. It is do forsothe, the Jewis comende, that dwelten bisides hem, and seiende to vs ten sithis, of alle the placis fro whiche thei weren come to vs, I sette in a place behinde the wal bi enuyroun a puple in order, with ther swerdis, and speris, and bowis. I beheeld, and ros, and seide to the more wrshipeful men, and maister iugis, and to the tother part of the comun, Wilith not dreden fro the face of hem; of the grete Lord and ferful hath mynde, and fiȝteth for ȝour brethern, and ȝour sonus, and ȝour doȝtris, ȝour wiues, and housis. It is do forsothe, whan oure enemys hadden herd to be told to vs, God scaterede the conseil of hem; and alle wee ben turned aȝeen to the wallis, eche to his werk. And it is do fro that dai, the half part of the ȝunge men maden the werk, and the half part was redi to bataile; and speris, and sheeldis, and bowis, and haberiones, and princis bihinde them, in al the hous of Juda, of bilders in the wal, and of bereris berthenus, and of leieris on; with ther oon hond thei maden the werc, and with the tother thei heelden swerd. Forsothe of the bilders eche was gird aboute the hipis with a swerd; and thei bilden, and crieden with trumpe bisyde me. And I seide to the most wrshipeful men, and to the maister iugis, and to the tother part of the comun, A gret werc it is, and brod, and we ben seuered in the wal aferr, an other fro an other; in what euere place ȝee shul here the criyng of the trumpe, thider renneth togidere to vs; forsothe oure God shal fiȝte for vs. And we vsself shul make the werk, and the half part of vs holde speris, fro the steȝing vp of the morutid to the time that the sterris gon out. Also that time I seide to the puple, Eche with his child dwelle in the middel of Jerusalem, and be ther to ȝou whilis by nyȝt and dai to werken. I forsothe, and my brethern, and the keperis, and my childer, that weren bihinde me, diden not of oure clothis; eche onli was nakid to baptem.
And ther is maad a cri of the puple and of ther wiues, a gret, aȝen Jewis, ther brethern. And ther weren that seiden, Oure sonus and oure doȝtris ben ful manye; take we for the pris of hem whete, and ete we, and liue wee. And ther weren that seiden, Oure feldis, and vines, and oure housis lei wee to, and take wee whete in hunger. And othere seiden, Borewe wee monei in to the tributus of the king, and ȝiue wee oure feldis, and oure vines. And now as the flesh of oure brethern, so oure flesh ben; and as the sonys of hem, so and oure sonus; lo! we han vnder ȝokid our sonus and oure doȝtris in to seruage, and of oure doȝtris ben thrallis, and we han not, wherof thei moun be boȝt; and our feldus, and oure vines other men welden. And I wrathide ful myche, whan I hadde herd the cri of hem after these woordys. And myn herte thoȝte with me, and I blamede the most wrshipeful men and maister iugis; and seide to hem, Echone aske ȝee not vsuris of ȝoure brethern. And I gederede aȝen hem a gret conuocacioun, and seide to them, Wee, as ȝee witen, han forboȝt oure brethern Jewis, that weren sold to the Jentilis, after oure power; and ȝee thanne sellen ȝoure brethern, and wee shul bien hem aȝeen. And thei heelden ther pes, ne founden not what thei shulden answern. And I seide to hem, This is no good thing, that ȝee don; whi in the drede of oure God ȝee gon not, lest it be repreuid to vs of the Jentilis, oure enemys? And I and my brethern, and my childer, lenten to manye men monei and whete, ne wee askeden not aȝen this in to comun; and other thing that is aȝt to vs graunte wee. Ȝeldeth to them to dai ther feldis, and ther vines, their oliues, and ther housis; but more and the hundrid part of monee of whete, and of win, and oile, that ȝee weren wont to asken of hem, ȝiueth for hem. And thei seiden, Wee shal ȝelden, and of hem nothing we sechen; and thus wee shul do as thou spekist. And I clepide the prestis, and adiurede hem, that thei shulde do aftir that I hadde seid. Ferthermor I shakide out my bosum, and seide, Thus God shake out eche man, that fulfillith not this woord of his hous, and of his trauailis; and be he shaken out, and maad voide. And al the multitude seide, Amen; and preiseden God. Thanne dide the puple, as it was seid. Forsothe fro that dai that the king hadde comaunded to me, that I were duke in the lond of Juda, fro the twentithe ȝer vn to the two and threttithe ȝer of king Artaxerses, bi twelue ȝer, I and my brethern the ȝeris frutus, that weren due to dukis, wee eeten not. Forsothe the firste dukis that weren befor me greueden the puple, and token of hem in bred, and win, and in mone, eche dai fourti ouncis; but and the seruauns of hem presseden doun the puple. I forsothe dide not so, for the drede of God; but rathere in the werk of the wal bildede, and feeld I boȝte not, and alle my childer gedered weren to the werc. Also Jewis and the maister iugis of hem weren an hundrid men and fifti; and thoo that camen to vs of the Jentilis, that ben in oure enuyroun, weren in my bord. Forsoth there was greithid to me bi alle daȝis an oxe, sixe chosen wetheris, out take volatilis, and betwe ten daȝes diuerse wines; and othere manye thingus I ȝaf; ferthermor and the ȝeris frutis of my duchie I soȝte not; forsothe the puple gretli was poueresht. My God, haue mynde of me in to goode, after alle thingis that I haue do to this puple.
It is do forsothe, whan Sanaballath hadde herd, and Thobias, and Gosem Arabs, and oure othere enemys, that I hadde bild the wal, and ther was not in it laft brosure among; forsothe vnto that time I hadde not put ȝate leues in the ȝate; Sanaballath, and Thobias, and Gosem Arabs senten to me, seiende, Cum, and smite wee pes couenaunt togidere in litle tounus, in a feeld; thei forsothe thoȝten, that thei do to me euel. Thanne I sente to hem messageris, seiende, A gret werc I do, and I mai not come doun, lest parauenture it be laft, whan I shulde comen, and descende to ȝou. Forsothe thei senten to me after this woord bi foure sithes, and I answerde to hem after the rathere woord. And Sanaballath sente to me after the rathere woord the fifte sithe his child; and he hadde a lettre in his hond writen in this maner; In Gentilis it is herd, and Gosem seide, for thou and the Jewis thenken to rebellen, and therfore ȝee bilden, and thou wilt rere thee vp on hem king; for what cause and profetus thou hast sett, that prechen of thee in Jerusalem, seiende, A king in Jerusalem is; the king is to here these woordis; therfore cum now, that wee go in counseil togidere. And I sente to hem, seiende, It is not don after these woordis that thou spekist; forsothe of thin herte thou makist these thingus. Alle these fereden vs, thenkende that our hondis shulden cesen fro werkis, and resten aȝeen; for what cause more I confortid myn hond. And I wente in to the hous of Samaie, sone of Dalie, sone of Methabehel, priuyli, the whiche seith, Trete wee with vs in the hous of God, in the middel of the temple, and close we the ȝatus of the hous; for ther ben to come that thei sle thee, and the nyȝt thei ben to come that thei sle thee. And I seide, Whethir any man lic me fleeth, and who as I shal go in to the temple, and liuen? I shal not gon in. And I vnderstod that God hadde not sent hym, but as profeciende he hadde spoke to me; and Thobias and Sanaballath bi mede hadden hirid hym. Forsothe he hadde take pris, that aferd I shulde don, and synnen; and thei myȝte han euel, that thei repreue to me. Haue mynde of me, Lord, for Tobias and Sanaballath, after suche werkus of hem; but and of Nadie, profete, and of othere profetus, that fereden me. Forsothe the wal is fulfild the fiue and twentithe dai of the sixte moneth, in two and fifti daȝes. It is do thanne, whan alle oure enemys hadden herd, that alle the Jentilis that weren in oure enuyroun dredden, and fellen togidere with inne themself, and knewen, that of the Lord was do this werc. But and in tho daȝes manye epistolis of the moste wrthi men of Jewis weren sent to Tobie, and fro Tobie camen to them. Manye forsothe weren in Jude, hauende his oth; for he was the sone in lawe of Sechenye, sone of Jorel; and Johannan, his sone, hadde taken the doȝter of Mosollam, sone of Barachie. But and thei preseden hym befor me, and my woordis thei tolden to hym; and Thobias sente lettris, that he shulde fere me.
Aftir forsothe that the wal is maad vp, and I sette the ȝate leuys, and noumbride the porteres, and the singeris, and the Leuitis, I comaundede to Aneny, my brother, and to Ananye, prince of the hous of Jerusalem; he forsothe as a sothfast man, and dredende God more than othere was seen; and I seide to hem, The ȝatis of Jerusalem be thei not opened vnto the hete of the sunne; and whan ȝit I stod neeȝh, the ȝatis ben closid and stoppid. And I sette keperis of the dwelleris of Jerusalem, eche bi ther whilis, and eche aȝen his hous. Forsothe the cite was myche brod and gret, and the puple litil in the middel of it, and ther weren not housis bild. God forsothe ȝaf in myn herte, and I gaderede togidere the most wrshipeful men, and the maister iugis, and the comun, that I noumbre hem; and I fond the boc of the noumbring of hem, that hadden steȝid vp first. And it is founde writen in it, These the sones of the prouince, that steȝeden vp fro the caitifte of transmigracioun, the whiche Nabugodonosor, king of Babiloine, hadde translatid; and thei ben turned aȝeen in to Jerusalem and in to Jude, eche in to his cite, that camen with Sorobabel; Josue, Neemias, Azarias, Raamias, Naanum, Mardocheus, Bethsar, Mesfarath, Beggai, Naum, Banaa. The noumbre of the men of the puple of Irael; the sones of Faros, two thousend and hundrid and two and seuenti; the sonus of Safaie, thre hundrid foure score and two; the sonus of Area, sixe hundrid two and fifti; the sonus of Faeth Moab, of the sonus of Josue and of Joab, two thousend eiȝte hundrid and eiȝtetene; the sonus of Elam, a thousend eiȝte hundrid and foure and fifti; the sonus of Zechua, eiȝte hundrid and fiue and fourti; the sonus of Zachai, seuene hundrid and sixty; the sonus of Bennui, sixe hundrid and eiȝte and fourti; the sonus of Ebai, sixe hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; the sonus of Asgad, two thousend thre hundrid and two and twenti; the sonus of Asonycham, sixe hundrid and seuene and sixti; the sonus of Bagoamy, two thousend and seuene and sixti; the sonus of Adin, sixe hundrid and fiue and fifti; the sonus of Aser, sone of Ezechie, eiȝte and twenti; the sonus of Asem, thre hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; the sonus of Bethsai, thre hundrid and foure and twenti; the sonus of Aref, an hundrid and seuene and twenti; the sonus of Salaon, fiue and nynti; the men of Bethlem and of Nethufa, an hundrid foure score and eiȝte; men of Anatot, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; men of Bethsamoth, two and fourti; men of Cariathiarim, Sefira, and Beroth, seuene hundrid and thre and fourti; men of Ramaa and of Gabaa, sixe hundrid and oon and twenti; men of Machinas, two hundrid and two and twenti; men of Bethel and of Hai, an hundrid and thre and twenti; men of the tother Nebo, two and fifti; men of the tother Elam, a thousend two hundrid and foure and fifti; the sonus of Arem, thre hundrid and twenti; the sonus of Jericho, thre hundrid and fiue and fourti; the sonus of Joiadid and of Anon, seuene hundrid and oon and twenti; the sonus of Senaa, thre thousend nyne hundrid and thretti; prestus, the sonus of Joiada, in the hous of Josue, nyne hundrid and foure and seuenti; the sonys of Emmer, a thousend and two and fifti; the sonus of Fassur, a thousend two hundrid seuene and fourti; the sones of Arem, a thousend and seuentene; Leuitus, sonus of Josue and of Gadimel, sonus of Odina, seuenti and foure; singeres, sonus of Asaf, an hundrid and seuene and fourti; porteres, sonus of Sellum, sonus of Ather, sonus of Thelmon, sonus of Accub, sonus of Accita, sonus of Sobai, an hundrid and eiȝte and thretti; sodeknes, sonus of Soa, sonus of Asfa, sonus of Thebaoth, sonus of Cheros, sonus of Sicca, sonus of Fado, sonus of Lebana, sonus of Agaba, sonus of Selmon, sonus of Anon, sonus of Jeddel, sonys of Gair, sonus of Raaia, sonus of Rasym, sonus of Nechoda, sonus of Jesem, sonus of Asa, sonus of Fascha, sonus of Besai, sonus of Minum, sonus of Nefusym, sonis of Bechue, sonus of Acufa, sonus of Assur, sonus of Belloth, sonus of Meida, sonus of Arsa, sonus of Berchos, sonus of Cizara, sonus of Thema, sonus of Nezia, sonus of Athifa, sonus of the seruauns of Salomon, sonus of Sothai, sonus of Soforeth, sonus of Ferida, sonus of Jachala, sonus of Dalchon, sonns of Jeddel, sonus of Safacia, sonus of Atchil, sonus of Focereth, that was born of Abaim, sone of Amon; alle the sodeknes, and the sonus of the thrallis of Salamon, thre hundrid and two and twenti. These ben that steȝeden vp of Themelath, Thelarsa, Cherub, Addo, and Emmer, and thei myȝten not shewe the hous of ther fadirs, and ther sed, whether of Israel thei weren; sonus of Dalaia, sonus of Thobia, sonus of Nethoda, sixe hundrid and two and fourti; and of the prestis, sonus of Abia, sonus of Achos, sonus of Bersellai, that toc a wif of the doȝtris of Bersellai Galadite, and is clepid bi the name of hem; these soȝten the scripture of ther genelogie, and founde not, and ben cast out fro presthod. And Athersatha seide to them, that thei shulden not eten of the holi thingus of halewis, to the time that ther rijse a taȝt and lerned prest. Al the multitude as o man, two and fourti thousend thre hundrid and sixti, with oute the seruauns and the hand wymmen of hem, that weren seuen thousend thre hundrid and seuene and thretti; and among hem singeres and singressis two hundrid and fiue and fourti. The hors of hem, seuene hundrid and thre and thretti; the camailis of hem, foure hundrid and fiue and thretti; the assis of hem, sixe thousend seuene hundred and thretti; the mulis of hem, two hundrid and fiue and fourti. Summe forsothe of the princis of the meynes ȝeuen expensis in to the werc of God; Athersatha ȝaf in to the tresorie, of gold, dragmys a thousend, fifty violis, prestus cotus fiue hundrid and thretti. And of the princis of the meines ther ȝeuen in to the tresorie of the werk, of gold, dragmis twenti thousend, and of siluer, two thousend besauntus and two hundrid. And that that ȝaf the tother puple, of gold, dragmis twenti thousend, and of siluer, besauntus two thousend, and prestus cotus sixti and seuenn. Forsothe the prestus, and Leuitus, and the porteris, and singeris, and the tother comun, and the sodeknys, and al Irael dwelten in ther cites. And the seuenthe monethe of the feste of tabernaclis was comen vnder Esdra and Neemie; the sonus forsothe of Irael weren in ther cites.
And al the puple is gedered as oo man, at the strete that is befor the ȝate of watris. And thei seiden to Esdra, scribe, that he shulde bringe forth the boc of the lawe of Moises, that the Lord hadde comaundid to Irael. Thanne Esdras, the prest, broȝte forth the lawe, befor the multitude of men and wymmen, and to alle that myȝten vnderstonde, in the firste dai of the seuenthe monyth. And he radde in it apertli in the strete that was befor the ȝate of watris, fro the morutid vnto the middai, in the siȝte of men and wymmen and of wise men; and the eris of al the puple weren riȝt to the boc. Forsothe Esdras scribe stod vpon a treene gree, the whiche he hadde maad to speken in; and ther stoden beside hym, Mathathias, and Semma, and Anania, and Vria, and Elchia, and Maasia, at his riȝt side; and at his left, Fadaia, Misael, and Melchia, Assum, and Asef, Dana, and Acharia, and Mosollam. And Esdras openede the boc beforn al the puple; vp on al the puple forsothe he stod ouer; and whan he hadde opened it, al the puple stod. And Esdras blesside to the Lord God with a gret vois; and al the puple answerde, Amen, Amen, rerend vp ther hondus. And thei ben ful bowid, and bowid in to the erthe thei honoureden God. But Josue, and Baani, and Serebia, Jamyn, Accub, Sefai, Odia, Maasia, Celitha, Azarias, Josabeth, Anan, Fallaia, Leuitus, maden silence in the puple to the lawe to ben herd. The puple forsothe stod in his gree. And thei radden in the boc of the lawe distinctli and apertli to vnderstonde; and thei vnderstoden, whan it schulde be rad. Forsothe Neemias, he is Athersata, seide, and Esdras, prest and scribe, and the Leuitus, remenyng to al the puple, A dai is halewid to the Lord oure God; wileth not weilen, and wileth not wepen. Forsothe al the puple wepte, whan he herde the woordis of the lawe. And he seide to them, Goth, and eteth fatte thingis, and drinketh meth, and sendeth for hem, that han not maad redi to them self, for it is the holi dai of the Lord; wileth not be dreri, forsothe the ioȝe of the Lord is ȝoure strengthe. Also Leuitus maden silence in al the puple, seiende, Holdeth ȝour pes, for it is halidai, and wileth not sorewen. And so al the puple wente to ete, and drinken, and to sende partis, and to make gret gladnesse; for thei vnderstoden the woordis, that he hadde taȝt hem. In the secunde dai ben gedered the princis of meynes, and al the puple, prestus, and Leuitus, to Esdra, scribe, that he remene to them the woordis of the lawe. And thei founde writen in the lawe, the Lord to han comaundid in the hond of Moises, that the sonus of Irael dwelle in tabernaclis in the solempne dai, the seuenthe moneth; and that thei prechen, and pupplishen vois in alle ther cites, and in Jerusalem; seiende, Goth out in to the hil, and bringeth braunchis of oliues, and braunchis of the most fair tree, and the braunchis of myrt tree, and bowis of palmys, and braunchis of a wodi tree, that ther be made tabernaclis, as it is write. And al the puple wente out, and broȝten, and maden tabernaclis to them, eche in his hous, and in ther porchis, and in the porchis of the hous of God, and in the strete of the ȝate of Effraym. Thanne al the chirche of hem, that ben turned aȝeen fro the caitifte, made tabernaclis, and thei dwelten in tabernaclis. Forsothe the sonus of Irael hadden nott maad suche thingis fro the dai of Josue, sone of Nun, vnto that dai; and ther was a gret gladnesse riȝt miche. Forsothe he radde in the boc of the lawe bi eche daȝes, fro the firste dai vn to the laste dai; and thei maden solempnete seuene daȝes, and in the eiȝthe a colect, after the custum.
In the foure and twentithe dai forsothe of this monith, the sonus of Irael camen togidere in fasting, and in sackis, and erthe vpon hem. And the sed of the sonus of Irael is seuered fro eche alien sone. And thei stoden befor the Lord, and thei knoulecheden ther synnes, and the wickednesses of ther fadris. And thei risen togidere to stonden, and thei radden in the volum of the lawe of the Lord ther God foure sithes in the dai, and foure sithes in the nyȝt; thei knoulecheden, and preiseden the Lord ther God. Forsothe ther risen vp on the gree, of Leuitus Jesue, and Baani, and Cediniel, Remni, Abany, Sarabias, Baani. And the Leuitus crieden with a gret vois to the Lord ther God. And Jesue and Sedeniel, Bonni, Assebia, Serebia, Arabia, Odaia, Sebua, Fachaia, seiden, Riseth, and blesseth to the Lord oure God fro withouten ende and vn to with oute ende; and blesse thei to the heȝe name of thi glorie in alle blessing and preising. And Esdras seide, Thou thi self, Lord, alone; thou madist heuene of heuenus, and al the ost of hem, the erthe and alle thingus that in it ben, ses and alle thingus that in hem ben, and thou quikenest alle these thingis; and the ost of heuene honoureth thee. Thou thi self Lord God, that chesedest Abraham, and laddest hym out fro the fijr of Caldeis, and settist his name Abraham; and foundist his herte trewe befor thee, and smite with hym pes couuenaunt, that thou ȝeue to hym the lond of Cananee, Ethei, and Euei, and Amorrei, and Feresei, and Jebusei, and Jergesei, that thou ȝeue to his sed; and thou hast fulfild thi woordis, for thou art riȝtwis. And thou hast seen the affliccioun of oure fadris in Egipt, and the cri of hem thou hast herd vpon the rede se. And thou ȝeue tocnes and wndris in Farao, and in alle his seruauns, and in al the puple of that lond; forsothe thou hast knowen, for proudli thei diden aȝen hem; and thou madest to thee a name as in this dai. And the see thou deuidedest beforn hem, and thei passeden ouer thurȝ the middel of the se in drie; the pursueris forsothe of hem thou threwe aferr in to the depnesse, as a ston in stronge watris. And in a pileer of a cloude ledere of hem thou were bi dai, and in a piler of fijr bi nyȝt, that the weie aperede to them, bi whiche thei wenten in. Also to the hil of Sinai thou came doun, and speke to hem fro heuene, and ȝeue to them riȝte domus, and the lawe of treuthe, cerimoines, and gode hestus. And halewid sabot thou shewedest to them; and maundemens, and cerimoines, and lawe, thou comaundedist to them, in the hond of Moises, thi seruaunt. Bred also fro heuene thou ȝeue to them in ther hunger; and water of a ston thou broȝtist out to hem threstende; and thou seidest to them, that thei shulden gon in, and welde the lond, vp on the whiche thou reredist thin hond, that thou take it to hem. Thei forsothe and ther fadris proudli diden, and inwardli hardeden ther nollis, and thei herden not thi maundemens. And thei wolden not heren; and thei recordeden not of thi merueilis, that thou haddest do to them; and thei inwardli hardeden ther nollis; and thei ȝeuen hed, that thei were turned togidere to ther thraldam; thou forsothe God merciful, and noble, and benigne, longe abidende, and of myche mercy, and thou forsoke not hem; and forsothe whan thei hadden maad to them a calf, as bi strif ȝoten, and seiden, This is thi God that ladde thee out fro Egipt, and thei diden grete blasfemys. Thou forsothe in thi manie mercies lafttist them not in desert; a piler of a cloude wente not awei fro hem bi dai, that it lede hem in to the weie; and a piler of fijr bi nyȝt, that he shewe to them the weie, bi whiche thei shulden gon in. And thi goode Spirit thou ȝeue to hem, that shulde teche them; and thi aungelis mete thou forfendedest not fro the mouth of hem, and watir thou ȝeue to hem in thrist. Fourti ȝer thou feddist hem in desert, and no thing to hem failede; the clothis of hem eeldeden not, and the feet of hem ben not ouertroden. And thou ȝeue to hem reumys, and puplis; and partidist to them lotis, and thei weldiden the lond of Seon, and the lond of the king of Esebon, and the lond of Og, king of Basan. And the sonus of hem thou multepliedest, as the sterris of heuene; and broȝtist hem to the lond, of the whiche thou haddest seid to ther fadris, that thei shulden gon in, and welden it. And the sonus of Irael camen, and weldeden the lond; and thou mekedest beforn hem the Cananees, dwelleris of the lond; and thou ȝeue hem in to ther hondis, and the kingus of hem, and the puplis of the lond, that thei do to hem as it pleside to them. And thei token strengthid cites, and fat erthe; and weldeden housis ful of alle goodis, cisternes of other men forgid, vines, and oliues, and manie appil trees. And thei eeten, and ben fulfild, and ben maad fatte; and thei aboundeden in richessis in thi grete goodnesse. Thei terreden forsothe thee to wrathe, and wenten awei fro thee, and threwen awei thi lawe bihinde ther backes; and thi profetus slowen, that witnesseden to them, that thei shulden turne aȝeen to thee; and thei diden grete blasfemys. And thou ȝeue them into the hond of ther enemis; and thei tormenteden hem; and in time of ther tribulacioun thei crieden to thee; and thou fro heuene herdest hem, and aftir thi manie deedis of mercy thou ȝeue to hem saueoures, that shulden sauen hem fro the hond of ther enemis. And whan thei hadden restid, thei ben turned aȝen that thei do euel in thi siȝte; and thou forsoke hem in the hond of ther enemys, and thei weldeden hem; and thei ben conuertyd, and thei crieden to thee; thou forsothe fro heuene herdist, and deliueredest hem in thi mercies manie times. And thou witnessedest to them, that thei shulden turnen aȝeen to thi lawe; thei forsothe proudli diden, and thei herden not thi maundementus, and in thi domys thei synneden, the whiche what man doth shal liuen in hem; and thei ȝeuen a going awey shulder, and ther nol thei inwardli hardeden. And thou drowe afer vpon hem manie ȝeris, and thou witnessedist hem in thi Spirit bi the hond of thi profetus; and thei herden not; and thou toke them in to the hond of the puplis of londis. Forsothe in thi manie mercies thou madist not hem in to wasting, ne forsoke them; for God of myseraciouns, and benigne thou art. And so now, Lord oure God, grete God, strong, and ferful, kepende couenaunt and merci, ne turne thou awei thi face in al the trauaile that hath founden vs, oure kingis, and oure princis, and oure fadris, and oure prestis, and oure profetis, and al thi puple, fro the daȝis of king Assur vnto this dai. And thou art riȝtwis in alle thingus, that camen vpon vs; for treuthe thou didist to vs; wee forsothe vnpitousli diden. Oure kingus, and oure princis, oure prestis, and oure fadris, diden not thi lawe, and tentiden not to thin hestis, and thy witnessis that thou witnessedist in hem. And thei in their goode reumis, and in thi miche goodnesse that thou haddest ȝiue to hem, and in the most large lond and fat, that thou haddest taken in the siȝte of hem, thei serueden not to thee, ne ben turned aȝeen fro ther werste studies. Lo! wee vsself to dai ben thrallis; and the lond that thou ȝeue to oure fadris, that thei shulden ete the bred of it, and tho thingus that ben goode of it; and we vsself ben thrallis in it. And the frutus of hem ben multiplied to kingis, that thou hast put vp on vs for oure synnes; and thei lordshipen to oure bodies, and to oure bestis, aftir ther wil, and in gret tribulacioun we ben. Thanne vp on alle these thingus wee vsself smijten pes couenaunt, and wrijten, and oure princis, oure Leuitis, oure prestis sette marke.
Selers forsothe weren Neemias, Athersata, sone of Achelai, and Sedechias, Saraias, Azarias, Jeremias, Fasur, Amaria, Melchia, Accus, Sebenia, Mellucharem, Nerimuth, Oddias, Daniel, Jenthon, Baruch, Mosollam, Abia, Mianymy, Mazia, Belga, Semeia; these preestis. But the Leuitus; Jesue, sone of Azarie, Bennuy, of the sonus of Ennadab, Cediniel, and the brether of hem, Sechenia, Odomia, Thelitha, Falaia, Anam, Micha, Roob, Azabia, Zaccur, Zerebias, Zabanya, Odias, Bani, Hanyim. The hedis of the puple, Fethos, Moab, Elam, Zecu, Banni, Bonni, Asgad, Bebai, Donai, Bagoai, Adin, Ather, Azothia, Asin, Adonia, Asuyn, Bessaia, Ares, Anathoth, Nebay, Methpia, Mosollam, Azir, Meisabel, Sadoc, Reddua, Felthia, Anania, Ozee, Anania, Azub, Aloes, Faleam, Sobeth, Reu, Azebina, Mathsia, Ethaia, Anam, Mellucharem, Baana; and othere of the puple, prestus, Leuitus, porteres, and singeres, sodeknes, and alle that seuereden hemself fro the puplis of londis to the lawe of God, ther wiues, and ther sonus, and ther doȝtris; alle that myȝten sauouren, behotende for ther brethern, ther most wrshipeful men, and thei that camen to behoten, and swern, that thei shulden gon in the lawe of the Lord, that he hadde ȝiue in the hond of Moises, his seruaunt, that thei shulde don and kepe alle the maundemens of the Lord ther God, and his domys, his cerymonies; and that wee shulden not ȝiuen oure doȝtris to the puple of the lond, and there doȝtris wee shulde not take to oure sones. The puplis forsothe of the lond, that bringen in chaffaris, and alle thingus to vsen bi the dai of sabot, that thei selle, wee shul not taken of hem in the sabot, and in the halewid dai; and wee shuln forȝiue the seuenthe ȝer, and exaccioun of alle hond. And we shul setten vp on vs hestus, that we ȝiue the thridde part of an ounce bi the ȝer to the werc of the Lord oure God, to the loues of proposicioun, and to the sacrifise euermor durende, and in to brent sacryfise euermor lastende, in sabatis, in calendis, in solempnetees, in halewid daȝis, and for synne, that it be preȝed for Irael, and in to alle vse of the hous of oure God. Thanne we leiden lotis vp on the offring of trees, betwe prestis and Leuitis and the puple, that thei shulden bringen in to the hous of oure God, bi the housis of oure fadris bi times, fro times of theȝer vn to a ȝer, that thei shulden brennen vp on the auter of the Lord oure God, as it is writen in the lawe of Moises; and that we bringe forth oure firste goten of oure lond, and the firste of alle frut of eche tree, fro ȝer in to ȝer, in to the hous of the Lord, and the firste of oure childer, and of oure bestus, as it is writen in the lawe, and the firste of oure oxen, and of oure shep, that thei be offrid in the hous of oure God, to prestis that seruen in the hous of oure God; and the firste of oure metus, and of oure sacrifises of likouris, and appilis of eche tree, also of vindage, and of oile, bringe wee to prestis, to the tresorie of the Lord, and the tenthe part of oure lond to Leuitus; thoo Leuitis shul take dimes of alle the cites of oure werkis. Forsothe the sone of Aron, prest, shal be with the Leuitus in the dimes of Leuitis; and Leuitus shuln offre the tenthe part of ther dime in the hous of oure God, to the tresorie, in the hous of the tresor. To the tresorie forsothe shul bern the sonus of Irael and the sonus of Leui the firste of whete, and of win, and of oile; and there shul ben the halewid vesselis and prestus, and singeris, and porteris, and seruauns; and we shul not leue the hous of oure God.
Forsothe the princis of the puple dwelten in Jerusalem; the most. wrshipeful men with oute lot in the middel of the puple dwelten; the tother forsothe puple leide lot, that it take o part of ten, that weren to dwellen in Jerusalem, in the holi cite; the tenthe part of the puple is rerid, that it dwelle in Jerusalem, for the cite was voide; nyne forsothe partis in cites. Forsothe the puple blesside to alle men, that hadden offrid hemself wilfulli, that thei dwelle in Jerusalem. And so these ben the princis of the prouince, that dwelten in Jerusalem, and in the cites of Juda; forsothe eche dwelte in his possessioun, in ther cites, Irael, prestis, Leuitis, sodeknis, and the sonus of the thrallis of Salomon. And in Jerusalem dwelten of the sonus of Juda, and of the sonus of Beniamyn; of the sonus of Juda, Athaias, the sone of Azian, the sonus of Zacharie, the sonus of Amarie, the sonus of Safaie, the sonus of Malalele; of the sonus of Fares, Amasia, the sone of Baruch, the sone of Cholosai, the sone of Asia, the sone of Adaia, the sone of Josarib, the sone of Zacharie, the sone of Salonites; alle the sonus of Fares, that dwelten in Jerusalem, foure hundrid sixti and eiȝte, stronge men. These ben forsothe the sonus of Beniamyn; Sellum, the sone of Mosollam, the sone of Joadi, the sone of Sadaia, the sone of Cholaia, the sone of Maisia, the sone of Ethel, the sone of Saia; and aftir hym Gabai, Sellai, nyne hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; and Joel, the sone of Secry, the prouost of hem, and Judas, the sone of Sennua, vpon the cite the secunde. And of the prestis; Idaia, the sone of Joarib, Jachim, Saraia, the sone of Elchie, the sone of Mosollam, the sone of Sadoch, the sone of Meraioth, the sone of Achitob, princis of the hous of God, and the brethern of hem, doende the werkis of the temple; eiȝte hundrid and two and twenti. And Adaia, the sone of Jeroam, the sone of Feler, the sone of Ampsi, the sone of Zacharie, the sone of Fessur, the sone of Melchie, and the brethern of hem, princis of fadris; two hundrid and two and fourty. And Amazie, the sone of Azriel, the sone of Azi, the sone of Mosollamoth, the sone of Seminer, and the brether of hem, ful miȝti, an hundrid and eiȝte and twenti; and the prouost of hem, Zebdiel, the sone of miȝti men. And of the Leuitus; Zechenia, the sone of Azab, the sone of Azarie, the sone of Azabie, the sone of Boni, and of Sabathai, and Josabel; and vp on alle the werkis that weren with oute forth in the hous of God, fro the princis of Leuitus. And Mathania, the sone of Micha, the sone of Sebdai, the sone of Asaf, prince, to preisen, and to knoulechen in orisoun; and Bethechias the secunde of his brethern, and Abdia, the sone of Sammia, the sone of Galai, the sone of Iditum. Alle the Leuitus in the holi cite, two hundrid foure score and foure. And the porteris; Accub, Thelmon, and the brethern of hem, that kepten the doris; an hundrid seuenti and two. And the tothere of Irael, prestis, and Leuitus, in alle the cites of Juda, eche in his possessioun. And the sodeknis, that dwelten in Ofel, and Ciacha, and Gaffa, of the sodekins. And bisshopis of Leuitus in Jerusalem; Aazi, the sone of Bani, the sone of Azabie, the sone of Mathanie, the sone of Miche. Of the sonus of Asaf, singeres in the seruise of the hous of God. Forsothe the heste of the king was vpon hem, and ordre in the singeris bi alle daȝis; and Afataia, the sone of Mosesehel, of the sonus of Zara, sone of Juda, in the hond of the king, aftir al the woord of the puple; and in the housis bi alle the regiouns of hem. Of the sonis of Juda dwelten in Cariatharbe, and in the doȝtris of it, and in Dibon, and in the doȝtris of it, and in Capceel, and in the litle tounus of it; and in Jesue, and in Molada, and in Bethfeleth, and in Asersual, and in Bersabe, and in the doȝtris of it; and in Sichelech, and in Mochone, and in the doȝtris of it; and in Remon, and in Sara, and in Jerimuth, Sonocha, Odollam, and in the litle tounus of hem; in Lachis, in the regiouns of it; Azecha, and in the doȝtris of it; and thei dwelten in Bersabe vn to the valei of Ennon. The sonus forsothe of Beniamyn; Areba, Mechinas, and Aia, and Bethel, and in the doȝtris of it; Anatot, Nob, Anania, Nazor, Rama, Jetheem, Adid, Zoboim, Nebollaloth, and Onam, in the valei of craftis men. And of Leuitus, the porceouns of Jude and of Beniamyn.
These forsothe ben the prestus and the Leuitis, that steȝeden vp with Sorobabel, the sone of Salatiel, and Josue; Saraia, Jeremia, Esdras, Amaria, Melluch, Accus, Sechenia, Reum, Merimuth, Addo, Jethom, Miomin, Abia, Meldaa, Belga, Semeia, and Joarib, Adaia, Sellum, Amoe, Elceia, Idaia; these the princis of prestys, and the brethern of hem, in the daȝes of Josue. But Leuitus; Jesua, Bennui, Cediniel, Serabia, Juda, Mathanias, vp on the ympnes, thei and the brether of hem, in the daȝis of Josue; and Besechia, and Ezamith, and the brethern of hem, eche in his offis. Josue forsothe gat Joachim, and Joachim gat Eliazub, and Eliazub gat Joiada, and Joiada gat Jonathan, and Jonathan gat Jedaia. In the daȝis forsothe of Joachim weren prestus, and the princis of meines, Saraie, Amarie, Jeremie, Ananie, Esdre, Mosollam, Amarie, Johannan, Milicho, Jonathan, Sebenie, Josef, Aram, Edua, Maraioth, Elchi, Adaie, Zacharie, Jenthon, Mosollam, Abie, Zecarie, Miamin, and Moadie, Felthi, Belge, Sannia, Semeie, Jonathan, Joarib, Mathania, Jodaie, Asi, Sellaie, Celaie, Mochebor, Elchie, Azebias, Idaie, Nathaneel. Leuitus in the daȝes of Eliazub, and of Joiada, and Jonan, and Jeddoa, writen princis of meines, and prestis in the regne of Darie of Persis. The sonus of Leui, princis of meines, writen in the boc of the woordis of daȝes, and vn to the daȝes of Jonathan, sone of Eliazub. And the princis of Leuitys; Azebia, Zerebia, and Jesue, sone of Cediniel; and the brethern of hem bi ther whilis, that thei shulden preisen and knoulechen, aftir the heste of king Dauid, man of God, and waiten aboute euene bi ordre. Mathania, Belthbecia, and Obedia, Mosollam, Thelmon, Accub, keperis of ȝatis, and of vestiaries befor the ȝatus. These in the daȝes of Joachim, sone of Josue, sone of Josedech, and in the daȝes of Neemie, duke, and Esdre, prest and scribe. In the dedicacioun forsothe of the wal of Jerusalem thei soȝten Leuites fro alle ther placis, that thei bringen them in to Jerusalem, and do the dedicacioun in gladnesse, and in doing of gracis, and in song, and in cimbalis, and in sautrees, and in harpis. Forsothe the sonus of singeris ben gadered and of the wilde feldis aboute Jerusalem, and of the tounus of Nethofati, and of the hous of Galgal, and of the regiouns of Jebes, and of Amanech; for tounes the singeris bilden to hemself in the enuiroun of Jerusalem. And the prestus and Leuitus ben clensid, and thei clenseden the puple, and the ȝatus of the wal. Forsothe I made the princis of Juda to steȝen vp vpon the wal, and I sette two grete querus of preiseris; and thei wenten at the riȝt side vpon the wal, at the ȝate of the dunghil. And ther wenten after hem Osias, and the half part of princis of Juda, and Azaria, Esdras, and Mosollam, Juda, and Beniamyn, and Semeia, and Jeremia. And of the sonus of prestis, in trumpis; Zacharias, the sone of Jonathan, the sone of Semeie, the sone of Mathanie, the sone of Machaie, the sone of Seecur, the sone of Asaf. And the brethern of hym; Semeia, and Azarel, Malalai, Galalay, Mai, Nathanael, and Juda, and Amani, in the vesselis of the song of Dauid, man of God; and Esdras, scribe, beforn hem, in the welle ȝate. And aȝen hem steȝeden vp in the gres of the cite of Dauid, in the steȝing vp of the wal, vp on the hous of Dauid, and vn to the ȝate of watris at the est. And the secunde quer of men tellende gracis wente forn aȝen, and I after it; and the half part of the puple vp on the wal, and vp on the tour of ouenus, and vn to the most large wal; and vp on the ȝate of Effraym, and vp on the olde ȝate, and vp on the ȝate of fisshis, and the tour of Ananehel, and the tour of Emath, and vn to the floc ȝate; and thei stoden in the warde ȝate. And two queris of men preisende stoden in the hous of God, and I and the half part of maister iugis with me. And the prestus, Eliachim, Maazia, Myamin, Michia, Elioenai, Zacharia, Anania, in trumpis; and Maazia, and Senea, and Eleazar, and Azi, and Johannan, and Melchia, and Elam, and Ezer; and clerli sungen the singeris, and Jesraia, the prouost. And thei offreden in that dai grete slaine sacrifises, and thei gladeden; God forsothe hadde gladid hem in gret gladnesse. But and the wiues of hem and the fre childer ioȝeden, and the gladnesse of Jerusalem is herd aferre. Also thei noumbreden in that dai men vpon the tresories of the tresor, to sacrifise of likour, and to the firste frutis, and dimes, that the princis of the cite, in fairnesse of doing of gracis, shulden bringen in to the prestis and Leuitus bi hem; for Juda gladede in the prestus and Leuitus stondende to. And thei kepten the obseruacioun of ther God, and the besinesse of clensing; and singeris, and porteris, after the heste of Dauid and of Salamon, his sone; for in the daȝis of Dauid and of Asaph from the beginnyng weren princis ordeined of singeris in dite, of men preisende and knoulechende to God. And al Irael, in the daȝes of Sorobabel, and in the daȝes of Neemie, ȝeuen partus to singeris and porteris bi alle daȝes; and thei halewiden the Leuitus, and the Leuitis halewiden the sonys of Aaron.
In the dai forsothe is rad in the volum of Moises, herende the puple; and ther is founde writen in it, that Amonites and Moabitis aȝten not to gon in to the chirche of God vnto withoute ende; for thi that thei aȝen camen not to the sonus of Irael with bred and watir, and thei hireden aȝen hem Balam to cursen to hem; and oure God turnede the cursing in to blessing. It is do forsothe, whan thei hadden herd the lawe, thei seuereden alle alien fro Irael. And vpon these thingus was Eliasub, the prest, that was prouost in the tresorie of the hous of oure God, and neȝhebore to Tobie. Thanne he made to hym a gret tresorie; and there weren beforn hym leiende vp ȝiftis, and encens, and vesselis, and the dime of whete, win, and of oile, partis of Leuitis, and of singeris, and of porteris, and the preestus firste frutis. In alle these thingus forsothe I was not in Jerusalem; for in the two and threttithe ȝer of Artaxerses, king of Babiloine, I cam to the king, and in the ende of daȝis I preȝide the king. And I cam into Jerusalem, and I vnderstod the euel, that Eliazub hadde do to Tobie, that he make to hym a tresor in the vestiaries of the hous off God; and euel it is seen to me gretli. And I threw out the vesselis of the hous of Tobie fro the tresorie; and I comaundede, and thei clenseden the tresories; and I bar aȝeen thider the vesselis of the hous of God, sacrifise, and encens. And I knewȝ for the partis of Leuitus weren not ȝiuen, and that eche was in to his regioun of the Leuitus, and of the singerys, and of hem that ministreden; and I pursuede the cause aȝen the master iugis, and seide, Whi han wee forsake the hous of God? And I gederede hem, and made to stonde in ther staciouns. And al Juda broȝte to the dime of whete, and of win, and of oile, in to bernes. And wee setten vpon the bernes, Selemiam, prest, and Sadoch, scribe, and Fadaiam, of the Leuitus, and biside hem, Anan, the sone of Saccur, the sone of Mathanie; for feithful thei ben preued, and to them ben take to kepe the partis of ther brethren. My God, haue mynde of me for this, and do thou not awei my mercies, that I dide in the hous of my God, and in his cerimoines. In thoo daȝes I saȝ in Juda tredende pressours in the sabot, hipelis berende, and chargende vpon assis win, and grapis, and figis, and eche charge, and berende in to Jerusalem in the dai of sabot; and I witnessede vpon hem, that in the dai, in whiche it was not leeful to sellen, thei solden. And Tiris dwelten in it, berende in fisshis and alle chaffaris, and thei solden in the sabatis to the sonus of Juda and of Jerusalem. And I repreuede the most wrshipeful men of Juda, and seide to hem, What is this euele thing that ȝee don, and defoulen the dai of sabot? Whether nott these thingus diden oure fadris, and oure God broȝte vp on vs al this euel, and vpon this cite? and ȝee adden wrathe vpon Irael, defoulende the sabot. It is do forsothe, whan the ȝatis of Jerusalem hadden restid in the sabot dai, I seide, Closeth the ȝatis; and thei closeden the ȝatis; and I comaundede, that thei shulden not opene them vnto after the sabot. And of my childer I ordeinede noumbris vp on the ȝatis, that no man shulde bern in charge vp on the sabot dai. And the marchaundis dwelten, and sellende al ther chaffaris, withoute Jerusalem ones and twies. And I witnessede to them, and seide to hem, Whi dwelle ȝee forn aȝen of the wal? If the secunde this ȝee do, hond I shal lein in ȝou. And so fro that time thei camen not in the sabot. Also I seide to the Leuitis, that thei shulden be clensid, and comen to the ȝatis to be kept, and to halewen the sabat dai. And bi this thanne haue mynde of me, my God, and spare to me aftir the multitude of thi myseraciouns. But in thoo dayes Y saȝ the Jewis weddinge wiues, Azotitis, Amonitis, and Moabitis. And the sonus of hem speeken of the half part Azotitis maner, and thei couthen not speken Jeuli, and thei speken after the tunge of puple and of puple. And I repreuede hem, and curside; and I felde of hem men, and made hem ballid, and made hem swern in the Lord, that thei shulde not ȝiue ther doȝtris to the sonus of hem, and thei shulden not take of the doȝtris of hem to ther sonus and to hemself; seiende, Whether not in such maner thing synnede Salamon, the king of Irael? And certus in manie Jentilis was ther no king of Irael lic hym, and he was derworthe to his God, and hys God sette hym king vpon al Irael, and hym thanne ladden to synne aliene wymmen. Whether and wee vnbuxhum shul don al this grete euel, that wee trespasen in the Lord oure God, and wedden straunge wiues. Of the sonus forsothe of Joiada, sone of the grete prest, Eliazib, sone in lawe was Sanaballath Oronite, whom I drof fro me. Recorde thou, Lord my God, aȝen hem, that defoulen presthod, and the prestus and Leuitus riȝt. Thanne I clensede hem fro alle alienes, and ordeinede ordris of prestis and of Leuitis, eche in his seruise, and in offring of trees in ordeined times, and in firste frutis. Haue mynde of me, mi God, in to goode.
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