Priests and Levites
1These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4Iddo, Ginnethon,12:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 16); most Hebrew manuscripts Ginnethoi Abijah,
5Mijamin,12:5 A variant of Miniamin Moadiah, Bilgah,
6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.
8The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.
10Joshua was the father of Joiakim,
Joiakim the father of Eliashib,
Eliashib the father of Joiada,
11Joiada the father of Jonathan,
and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:
of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13of Ezra’s, Meshullam;
of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14of Malluk’s, Jonathan;
of Shekaniah’s,12:14 Very many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also verse 3); most Hebrew manuscripts Shebaniah’s Joseph;
15of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s,12:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 3); Hebrew Meraioth’s Helkai;
16of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17of Abijah’s, Zikri;
of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18of Bilgah’s, Shammua;
of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20of Sallu’s, Kallai;
of Amok’s, Eber;
21of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.
Dedication of the wall of Jerusalem
27At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem – from the villages of the Netophathites, 29from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
31I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of12:31 Or go alongside the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of12:31 Or proceed alongside the wall to the right, towards the Dung Gate. 32Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36and his associates – Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani – with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.
38The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of12:38 Or them alongside the wall, together with half the people – past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah12:39 Or Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.
40The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41as well as the priests – Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets – 42and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
Ansembe ndi Alevi
1Ansembe ndi Alevi amene anabwerera pamodzi ndi Zerubabeli mwana wa Sealatieli ndi Yesuwa anali awa:
Seraya, Yeremiya, Ezara,
2Amariya, Maluki, Hatusi,
3Sekaniya, Rehumu, Meremoti,
4Ido, Ginetoyi, Abiya
5Miyamini, Maadiya, Biliga,
6Semaya, Yowaribu, Yedaya,
7Salu, Amoki, Hilikiya ndi Yedaya.
Awa ndiye anali atsogoleri a ansembe ndi abale awo pa nthawi ya Yesuwa.
8Alevi anali Yesuwa, Binuyi, Kadimieli, Serebiya, Yuda, ndiponso Mataniya, amene pamodzi ndi abale ake ankatsogolera nyimbo za mayamiko. 9Abale awo, Bakibukiya ndi Uri, ankayimba nyimbo molandizana.
10Yesuwa anabereka Yowakimu, Yowakimu anabereka Eliyasibu, Eliyasibu anabereka Yoyada. 11Yoyada anabereka Yonatani, ndipo Yonatani anabereka Yaduwa.
12Pa nthawi ya Yowakimu, awa ndiwo anali atsogoleri a mabanja a ansembe:
Mtsogoleri wa fuko la Seraya anali Meraya;
wa fuko la Yeremiya anali Hananiya;
13wa fuko la Ezara anali Mesulamu;
wa fuko la Amariya anali Yehohanani;
14wa fuko la Maluki anali Yonatani;
wa fuko la Sebaniya anali Yosefe;
15wa fuko la Harimu anali Adina;
wa fuko la Merayoti anali Helikayi;
16wa fuko la Ido anali Zekariya;
wa fuko la Ginetoni anali Mesulamu;
17wa fuko la Abiya anali Zikiri;
wa fuko la Miniyamini ndi banja la Maadiya anali Pilitayi;
18wa fuko la Biliga anali Samuwa;
wa fuko la Semaya anali Yonatani;
19wa fuko la Yowaribu anali Matenayi;
wa fuko la Yedaya anali Uzi;
20wa fuko la Salai anali Kalai;
wa fuko la Amoki anali Eberi;
21wa fuko la Hilikiya anali Hasabiya;
wa fuko la Yedaya anali Netaneli.
22Pa nthawi ya Eliyasibu, Yoyada, Yohanani ndi Yaduwa panalembedwa atsogolera a mabanja a Alevi ndi a ansembe mpaka pa nthawi ya ulamuliro wa Dariyo Mperisi. 23Zidzukulu za Levi, makamaka atsogoleri a mabanja awo analembedwa mʼbuku la mbiri mpaka pa nthawi ya Yohanani mwana wa Eliyasibu. 24Ndipo atsogoleri a Alevi awa, Hasabiya, Serebiya, Yesuwa mwana wa Kadimieli ndi abale awo, ankayimba nyimbo zotamanda ndi zothokoza molandizana. Gulu limodzi linkavomerezana ndi linzake monga mmene Davide munthu wa Mulungu analamulira.
25Mataniya, Bakibukiya, Obadiya, Mesulamu, Talimoni ndi Akubu anali olonda nyumba zosungiramo chuma pa zipata za ku Nyumba ya Mulungu. 26Iwo ndiwo ankatumikira pa nthawi ya Yowakimu mwana wa Yesuwa mwana wa Yozadaki, ndiponso pa nthawi ya bwanamkubwa Nehemiya ndi wansembe Ezara amene analinso mlembi.
Mwambo Wopereka Khoma la Yerusalemu
27Pa mwambo wopereka khoma la Yerusalemu anayitana Alevi kulikonse kumene ankakhala kuti abwere ku Yerusalemu ku mwambo wopereka khoma kwa Mulungu, mwachimwemwe ndi mothokoza poyimba nyimbo pamodzi ndi ziwiya za malipenga, azeze ndi apangwe. 28Tsono anthu a mabanja a Alevi oyimba nyimbo aja anasonkhana pamodzi kuchokera ku madera onse ozungulira Yerusalemu ndiponso ku midzi ya Anetofati, 29Beti-Giligala ndi ku madera a ku Geba ndi Azimaveti, pakuti oyimbawo anali atamanga midzi yawo mozungulira Yerusalemu. 30Tsono ansembe ndi Alevi anachita mwambo wodziyeretsa. Pambuyo pake anachita mwambo woyeretsa anthu onse ndi khoma la Yerusalemu.
31Ine ndinabwera nawo atsogoleri a dziko la Yuda ndi kukwera nawo pa khoma. Ndipo ndinasankha magulu awiri akuluakulu oyimba nyimbo za matamando. Gulu limodzi linadzera mbali ya ku dzanja lamanja pa khoma mpaka ku Chipata cha Kudzala. 32Pambuyo pawo panali Hosayia, theka la atsogoleri a Yuda aja 33pamodzi ndi Azariya, Ezara, Mesulamu, 34Yuda, Benjamini, Semaya ndi Yeremiya. 35Ena mwa ana a ansembe amene ankayimba malipenga awo anali awa: Zekariya mwana wa Yonatani mwana wa Semaya mwana wa Mataniya, mwana wa Mikaya, mwana wa Zakuri, mwana wa Asafu, 36pamodzi ndi abale awo awa: Semaya, Azareli, Milalai, Gilalayi, Maayi, Netaneli, Yuda ndi Hanani. Onse ankagwiritsa ntchito zida zoyimbira za Davide, munthu wa Mulungu. Tsono Ezara mlembi uja ankawatsogolera. 37Kuchokera ku Chipata cha Kasupe anayenda nakakwera makwerero opita ku mzinda wa Davide pa njira yotsatira khoma, chakumtundu kwa nyumba ya Davide mpaka ku Chipata cha Madzi, mbali ya kummawa.
38Gulu loyimba lachiwiri linadzera mbali ya kumanzere kwa khomalo. Tsono ine ndi theka lina la atsogoleri aja tinkalitsata pambuyo tikuyenda pamwamba pa khomalo. Tinapitirira Nsanja ya Ngʼanjo mpaka ku Khoma Lotambasuka. 39Tinadutsanso Chipata cha Efereimu, Chipata cha Yesana, Chipata cha Nsomba, Nsanja ya Hananeli, Nsanja ya Zana mpaka kukafika ku Chipata cha Nkhosa. Ndipo mdipiti uwu unakayima pa Chipata cha Mlonda.
40Choncho magulu onse awiri oyimba nyimbo zothokoza aja anakayima pafupi ndi Nyumba ya Mulungu. Pamodzi ndi ine ndi theka la atsogoleri aja, 41panalinso ansembe awa akuyimba malipenga: Eliyakimu, Maaseya, Miniyamini, Mikaya, Eliyoenai, Zekariya ndi Hananiya. 42Panalinso ansembe awa: Maaseya, Semaya, Eliezara, Uzi, Yehohanani, Milikiya, Elamu ndi Ezeri. Gulu loyimba linkatsogozedwa ndi Yezirahayiya. 43Pa tsiku limenelo anthu anapereka nsembe zambiri ndipo anakondwera chifukwa Mulungu anawapatsa chimwemwe chachikulu. Nawonso akazi ndi ana anakondwera ndipo kukondwa kwa anthu a mu mzinda wa Yerusalemu kunamveka kutali.
44Tsiku limenelo panasankhidwa anthu oyangʼanira zipinda zosungiramo zopereka zaufulu, zipatso zoyamba kucha, zopereka za chakhumi. Anthuwo ankasonkhanitsa zopereka kuchokera ku minda ya midzi yonse kuti azipereke kwa ansembe ndi Alevi malingana ndi malamulo. Izi zinali chomwechi chifukwa Ayuda ankakondwera ndi utumiki wa ansembe ndi Alevi. 45Iwowa ankagwira ntchito ya Mulungu wawo, makamaka mwambo woyeretsa zinthu. Nawonso oyimba nyimbo ndi olonda ku Nyumba ya Mulungu anagwira ntchito zawo monga Davide ndi mwana wake Solomoni analamula. 46Pakuti kalekale, pa nthawi ya Davide ndi Asafu, panali atsogoleri a anthu oyimba nyimbo za matamando ndi nyimbo zoyamika Mulungu. 47Choncho mu nthawi ya Zerubabeli ndi Nehemiya, Aisraeli onse anakapereka mphatso tsiku ndi tsiku kwa anthu oyimba nyimbo ndi alonda a ku Nyumba ya Mulungu. Ankayikanso padera chigawo cha zopereka cha Alevi. Nawonso Alevi ankayika padera chigawo cha zopereka cha ansembe, zidzukulu za Aaroni.
