Nehemiah 12 – NIRV & ASCB

New International Reader’s Version

Nehemiah 12:1-47

The Priests and Levites Who Returned to Judah

1Some priests and Levites returned to Judah with Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel. Here are the names of those priests and Levites.

Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

2Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

3Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

4Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,

5Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,

6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah

All of them were the leaders of the priests and those who helped them. They lived in the days of Joshua.

8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah and Judah. There were also Mattaniah and those who helped him. They were in charge of the songs for giving thanks. 9Bakbukiah and Unni helped them. They stood and sang across from them during the services.

10Joshua was the father of Joiakim.

Joiakim was the father of Eliashib.

Eliashib was the father of Joiada.

11Joiada was the father of Jonathan.

And Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

12Here are the names of the family leaders of the priests. They were the leaders in the days of Joiakim.

Meraiah was from Seraiah’s family.

Hananiah was from Jeremiah’s family.

13Meshullam was from Ezra’s family.

Jehohanan was from Amariah’s family.

14Jonathan was from Malluk’s family.

Joseph was from Shekaniah’s family.

15Adna was from Harim’s family.

Helkai was from Meremoth’s family.

16Zechariah was from Iddo’s family.

Meshullam was from Ginnethon’s family.

17Zikri was from Abijah’s family.

Piltai was from Miniamin’s and Moadiah’s family.

18Shammua was from Bilgah’s family.

Jehonathan was from Shemaiah’s family.

19Mattenai was from Joiarib’s family.

Uzzi was from Jedaiah’s family.

20Kallai was from Sallu’s family.

Eber was from Amok’s family.

21Hashabiah was from Hilkiah’s family.

And Nethanel was from Jedaiah’s family.

22The names of the family leaders of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua were written down. So were the names of the family leaders of the priests. That happened while Darius ruled over Persia. 23The names of the leaders in Levi’s family line up to the time of Johanan were written down. They were written in the official records. Johanan was the son of Eliashib. 24The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua. Jeshua was the son of Kadmiel. Those who helped them stood across from them to sing praises and give thanks. One group would sing back to the other. That’s what David, the man of God, had ordered.

25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub stood at the gates of the temple. They guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26They served in the days of Joiakim. He was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Jozadak. They also served in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law.

The Wall of Jerusalem Is Set Apart to God

27The wall of Jerusalem was set apart to God. For that occasion, the Levites were gathered together from where they lived. They were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate that happy occasion. They celebrated the fact that the wall was being set apart to God. They did it by singing and giving their thanks to him. They celebrated by playing music on cymbals, harps and lyres. 28The musicians were also brought together. Some of them came in from the area around Jerusalem. Others came from the villages where the people of Netophah lived. 29Others came from Beth Gilgal. Still others came from the area of Geba and Azmaveth. The musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30The priests and Levites made themselves pure. Then they made the people, the gates and the wall pure and “clean.”

31I, Nehemiah, had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also appointed two large choirs to sing and give thanks. I told one of them to walk south on top of the wall. That was toward the Dung Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them. 33Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah and Jeremiah also followed them. 35Some priests who had trumpets followed them. So did Zechariah. He was the son of Jonathan. Jonathan was the son of Shemaiah. Shemaiah was the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Micaiah. Micaiah was the son of Zakkur. Zakkur was the son of Asaph. 36Those who helped Zechariah also marched along. They were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani. They brought musical instruments with them. That’s what David, the man of God, had ordered. Ezra led the group that was marching south. He was the teacher of the Law. 37At the Fountain Gate they continued straight up the steps of the City of David. The steps went up to the wall. Then the group passed above the place where David’s palace had been. They continued on to the Water Gate on the east.

38The second choir went north. I followed them on top of the wall. Half of the people went with me. They went past the Tower of the Ovens. They went to the Broad Wall. 39They marched over the Gate of Ephraim. They went over the Jeshanah Gate and the Fish Gate. They went past the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred. They continued on to the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

40Then the two choirs that sang and gave thanks took their places in God’s house. So did I. So did half of the officials. 41And so did the priests. They were Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah. They had their trumpets with them. 42Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer were also there. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43On that day large numbers of sacrifices were offered. The people were glad because God had given them great joy. The women and children were also very happy. The joyful sound in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

Nehemiah Makes Some Final Changes

44At that time some men were put in charge of the storerooms. That’s where all the gifts the people brought were placed. Those gifts included the first shares of their crops. They also included a tenth of everything the Law required. Crops were harvested from the fields around the towns. The people had to bring the shares of those crops that were required by the Law. They gave them to the priests and Levites. That’s because the people of Judah were pleased with the priests and Levites who were serving God. 45The priests and Levites did everything their God wanted them to do. They made things pure and “clean.” The musicians and the men who guarded the temple gates also served God. Everything was done just as David and his son Solomon had commanded. 46A long time ago there had been directors for the musicians. There had also been directors for the songs for giving thanks and praise to God. It was in the time of David and Asaph. 47So now in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all the people of Israel brought their gifts. They gave the musicians and the men who guarded the gates what they were supposed to give them every day. They also set apart the shares for the other Levites. And the Levites set apart the shares for the priests in the family line of Aaron.

Asante Twi Contemporary Bible

Nehemia 12:1-47

Asɔfoɔ Ne Lewifoɔ Ho Abakɔsɛm

1Saa nnipa yi ne asɔfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ a wɔne Sealtiel babarima Serubabel ne ɔsɔfopanin Yesua sanee wɔn akyi no:

Seraia, Yeremia, Ɛsra,

2Amaria, Maluk, Hatus,

3Sekania, Rehum, Meremot,

4Ido, Ginetoi, Abia,

5Miamin, Maadia, Bilga,

6Semaia, Yoiarib, Yedaia,

7Salu, Amok, Hilkia ne Yedaia.

Yesua ɛberɛ so no, na yeinom ne asɔfoɔ ntuanofoɔ ne wɔn mfɛfoɔ.

8Lewifoɔ a wɔne wɔn sanee wɔn akyi no nie: Yesua, Binui Kadmiel, Serebia, Yuda, Matania a na ɔne ne mfɛfoɔ na na wɔhwɛ aseda nnwom so no. 9Na sɛ wɔresom a, wɔn mfɛfoɔ Bakbukia ne Uni sɔre gyina ne wɔn di nhwɛanimu.

10Ɔsɔfopanin Yesua woo Yoiakim,

Yoiakim woo Eliasib,

Eliasib woo Yoiada,

11na Yoiada woo Yonatan,

na Yonatan woo Yadua.

12Ɛberɛ a Yoiakim yɛ ɔsɔfopanin no, na asɔfoɔ mmusua mu ntuanofoɔ no ne:

Meraia a ɔtua Seraia abusua ano.

Hanania a ɔtua Yeremia abusua ano.

13Mesulam a ɔtua Ɛsra abusua ano.

Yehohanan a ɔtua Amaria abusua ano.

14Yonatan a ɔtua Maluki abusua ano.

Yosef a ɔtua Sebania abusua ano.

15Adna a ɔtua Harim abusua ano.

Helkai a ɔtua Meraiot abusua ano.

16Sakaria a ɔtua Ido abusua ano.

Mesulam a ɔtua Gineton abusua ano.

17Sikri a ɔtua Abia abusua ano.

Miniamin ne Moadia abusua nso yɛ Piltai.

18Samua a ɔtua Bilga abusua ano.

Yehonatan a ɔtua Semaia abusua ano.

19Matenai a ɔtua Yoiarib abusua ano.

Usi a ɔtua Yedaia abusua ano.

20Kalai a ɔtua Salai abusua ano.

Eber a ɔtua Amok abusua ano.

21Hasabia a ɔtua Hilkia abusua ano.

Netanel a ɔtua Yedaia abusua ano.

22Persiahene Dario a ɔtɔ so mmienu ɛberɛ so no, wɔtwerɛɛ Lewifoɔ ne asɔfoɔ mmusua mu ntuanofoɔ no nyinaa din wɔ saa asɔfoɔ mpanimfoɔ yi pɛn so: Eliasib, Yoiada, Yohanan, ne Yadua. 23Wɔtwerɛɛ Lewifoɔ mmusua ntuanofoɔ no din guu Abakɔsɛm Nwoma mu kɔsii Eliasib nana Yohanan ɛberɛ so. 24Yeinom ne Lewifoɔ mmusua ntuanofoɔ: Hasabia, Serebia, Yesua, Binui, Kadmiel ne wɔn mfɛfoɔ bi a, sɛ ɛduru ayɛyie ne aseda afahyɛ so a, wɔgyina hɔ ne wɔn di nhwɛanimu, na ɛfa gye ɛfa so wɔ nnwontoɔ mu, sɛdeɛ Dawid, Onyankopɔn onipa, kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnyɛ no.

25Na Matania, Bakbukia ne Obadia nso ka ho. Mesulam, Talmon ne Akub na wɔyɛ aponoanohwɛfoɔ a wɔhwɛ adekoradan a ɛwɔ apono no ano no so. 26Na yeinom nyinaa somm wɔ Yesua babarima Yoiakim a ɔyɛ Yosadak nana ne Nehemia a ɔyɛ amrado ne Ɛsra a na ɔyɛ ɔsɔfoɔ ne mmara no ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ berɛ so.

Wɔdwira Yerusalem Ɔfasuo No

27Ɛberɛ a wɔredwira Yerusalem ɔfasuo foforɔ no ho no, wɔka kyerɛɛ Lewifoɔ a wɔwɔ asase no so nyinaa sɛ, wɔmmra Yerusalem mmɛboa dwumadie no. Na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde kyankyan, mmɛnta ne asankuten to wɔn aseda nnwom de hyɛ anigyeɛ fa no. 28Wɔde nnwomtofoɔ no firi Yerusalem ne ne nkuraaseɛ ne Netofafoɔ nkuraaseɛ nyinaa bɔɔ mu baeɛ. 29Ebi nso firi Bet-Gilgal ne Geba pɔ mu hɔ ne Asmawet, ɛfiri sɛ, na nnwomtofoɔ no ara akyekyere wɔn ankasa nkuraa afa Yerusalem ho ahyia. 30Asɔfoɔ no ne Lewifoɔ no dwiraa wɔn ho, afei wɔdwiraa ɔmanfoɔ no ho, dwiraa apono no ne ɔfasuo no nso ho.

31Medii Yuda ntuanofoɔ no anim kɔɔ ɔfasuo no atifi, na meboaboaa nnwomtofoɔ akuo akɛseɛ mmienu ano, ma wɔbɛdaa ase. Nnwontofoɔ ekuo no mu baako kɔɔ anafoɔ wɔ ɔfasuo no atifi kɔsii Sumina Ɛpono no. 32Hosaia ne Yuda ntuanofoɔ no mu fa dii wɔn akyi, 33na Asaria, Ɛsra, Mesulam, 34Yuda, Benyamin, Semaia, Yeremia 35ne asɔfoɔ no bi a wɔhyɛne totorobɛnto no dii wɔn akyi. Ɛno akyi na Yonatan babarima Sakaria, Semaia babarima, Matania babarima, Mikaia babarima, Sakur babarima a ɔyɛ Asaf aseni no di hɔ. 36Ne korakora no, Sakaria mfɛfoɔ a wɔne Semaia, Asarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Netanel, Yuda ne Hanani dii wɔn so. Wɔfaa nnwontodeɛ a Dawid a ɔyɛ Onyankopɔn onipa akyerɛ sɛ wɔmfa no. Na Ɛsra a ɔyɛ mmara no ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ no na ɔdii santen no anim. 37Wɔfaa nsuo Aniwa Ɛpono no ho, kɔɔ tee kɔforoo kuropɔn no ɔfasuo atwedeɛ a ɛkyerɛ Dawid kuropɔn no. Wɔfaa Dawid efie ho, kɔsii Nsuo Ɛpono a ɛwɔ apueeɛ fam no ho.

38Nnwontofoɔ a wɔtɔ so mmienu no faa atifi ɛkwan kɔhyiaa wɔn. Me ne ɔmanfoɔ no mu fa dii wɔn akyi. Yɛfaa ɔfasuo no so nam Fononoo Abantenten no ho kɔsii Ɔfasuo Tɛtrɛtɛ no, 39afei yɛtwaa Efraim Ɛpono no ho, kɔsii Kuropɔn Dada Ɛpono no, yɛfaa Mpataa Ɛpono no ho, kɔsii Hananel Abantenten ho kɔɔ Ɔha Abantenten no ho. Yɛtoaa so kɔɔ Nnwan Ɛpono no ho, na yɛkɔgyinaa Ɔwɛn Ɛpono ano.

40Nnwontokuo mmienu a na wɔreda ase no kɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan mu kɔtenatenaa ase. Me nso me ne akuo ntuanofoɔ a na wɔka me ho no yɛɛ saa ara. 41Yɛne asɔfoɔ a na wɔhyɛn totorobɛnto a wɔne Eliakim, Maaseia, Miniamin, Mikaia, Elioenai, Sakaria, Hanania 42ne nnwomtofoɔ Maaseia, Semaia, Eleasa, Usi, Yehohanan, Malkia, Elam ne Eser na yɛbɔɔ mu kɔeɛ. Wɔtoo nnwom denden so a na dwomkyerɛfoɔ Yisrahia rema wɔn akwankyerɛ. 43Saa anigyeɛ da no, wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ bebree, ɛfiri sɛ, na Onyankopɔn ayɛ biribi ama wɔn a enti ɛsɛ sɛ wɔma wɔn ani gyeɛ. Mmaa ne mmɔfra nyinaa de wɔn ho hyɛɛ afahyɛ no mu, na ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ Yerusalem no osebɔ no duruu akyirikyiri.

Nneɛma A Ɛhia Wɔ Asɔredan Mu Ɔsom Mu

44Ɛda no, wɔyii mmarima sɛ wɔnhwɛ adekoradan a wɔde akyɛdeɛ, otwakane ne ntotosoɔ dudu gu mu no so. Na ɛyɛ wɔn asɛdeɛ sɛ wɔkɔgyegye firi mfuo mu, sɛdeɛ asɔfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ mmara kyerɛ no, ɛfiri sɛ, na asɔfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ ne wɔn dwumadie no ho hia Yudafoɔ nyinaa yie. 45Wɔyɛɛ wɔn Onyankopɔn som no ne ahodwira som no pɛpɛɛpɛ, sɛdeɛ Dawid ne ne babarima Salomo mmara kyerɛ no, na saa ara nso na nnwomtofoɔ no ne aponoanohwɛfoɔ no yɛeɛ. 46Amammerɛ a wɔma nnwomtofoɔ akwankyerɛfoɔ di nnwomtofoɔ no anim wɔ nkamfo ne aseda nnwom a wɔto de ma Onyankopɔn no hyɛɛ aseɛ firii Dawid ne Asaf berɛ so. 47Enti, ɛfiri Serubabel ne Nehemia berɛ so no, na daa ɔmanfoɔ brɛ nnwomtofoɔ no ne aponoanohwɛfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ no nnuane. Na Lewifoɔ no nso de deɛ wɔnya no mu bi ma asɔfoɔ a wɔyɛ Aaron asefoɔ no.