and has extendedlovingkindnessto me beforethe kingand his counselorsand before allthe king'smightyprinces.Thus I was strengthenedaccording to the handof the LORDmy Godupon me, and I gatheredleadingmenfrom Israelto goup with me.
He said,"Your nameshall nolongerbe Jacob,but Israel;for you have strivenwith Godand with menand have prevailed."
and may GodAlmightygrantyou compassionin the sightof the man,so that he will releaseto you your otherbrotherand Benjamin.And as for me, ifI am bereavedof my children,I am bereaved."
But the eyeof their Godwas on the eldersof the Jews,and they did not stopthem untila reportcould cometo Darius,and thena writtenreplybe returnedconcerningit.
"Forasmuchas you are sentby the kingand his sevencounselorsto inquireconcerningJudahand Jerusalemaccording to the lawof your Godwhichis in your hand,
ThisEzrawentup from Babylon,and he was a scribeskilledin the lawof Moses,whichthe LORDGodof Israelhad given;and the kinggrantedhim allhe requestedbecause the handof the LORDhis God[was] upon him.
For on the firstof the firstmonthhe beganto goup from Babylon;and on the firstof the fifthmonthhe cameto Jerusalem,because the goodhandof his God[was] upon him.
Now theseare the headsof their fathers'[households] and the genealogicalenrollmentof those who wentup with me from Babylonin the reignof KingArtaxerxes:
Now I assembledthem at the riverthat runsto Ahava,wherewe campedfor threedays;and when I observedthe peopleand the priests,I did not findanyLevitesthere.
According to the goodhandof our Godupon us they broughtus a manof insightof the sonsof Mahli,the sonof Levi,the sonof Israel,namely Sherebiah,and his sonsand brothers,18men;
"For we are slaves;yet in our bondageour Godhas not forsakenus, but has extendedlovingkindnessto us in the sightof the kingsof Persia,to giveus revivingto raiseup the houseof our God,to restoreits ruinsand to giveus a wallin Judahand Jerusalem.
"OLord,I beseechYou, may Your earbe attentiveto the prayerof Your servantand the prayerof Your servantswho delightto revereYour name,and makeYour servantsuccessfultodayand granthim compassionbeforethisman."Now I was the cupbearerto the king.
and a letterto Asaphthe keeperof the king'sforest,that he may giveme timberto makebeamsfor the gatesof the fortresswhichis by the temple,for the wallof the cityand for the houseto whichI will go."And the kinggranted[them] to me because the goodhandof my God[was] on me.
Let there be noneto extendlovingkindnessto him, Norany to be graciousto his fatherlesschildren.
He issueda proclamationand it said,"In Ninevehby the decreeof the kingand his nobles:Do not let man,beast,herd,or flocktastea thing.Do not let them eator drinkwater.
