A List of Priests and Levites
1 Many priests and Levites had returned from Babylonia with Zerubbabel and Joshua as their leaders. Those priests were Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and another Jedaiah. These were the leading priests and their assistants during the time of Joshua.
8 The Levites who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They and their assistants were responsible for the songs of praise, 9 while Bakbukiah and Unno, together with their assistants, were responsible for the choral responses.
Descendants of Joshua the High Priest
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, the grandfather of Eliashib, and the great-grandfather of Joiada. 11 Joiada was the father of Jonathan and the grandfather of Jaddua.
Leaders of the Priestly Clans
12 When Joiakim was high priest, the following priests were leaders of their clans: Meraiah of the Seraiah clan, Hananiah of Jeremiah, 13 Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, 14 Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, 15 Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, 16 Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, 17 Zichri of Abijah, Piltai of Moadiah, 18 Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, 19 Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, 20 Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, 21 Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah.
The Priestly and Levite Families
22 During the time of the high priests Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, and including the time that Darius was king of Persia, a record was kept of the heads of the Levite and priestly families. 23 However, no official record was kept of the heads of the Levite clans after the death of Johanan, the grandson of Eliashib.
24 Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their assistants organized two choirs of Levites to offer praises to God, just as King David, the man of God, had commanded.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were responsible for guarding the storerooms near the temple gates.
26 All of these men lived during the time of Joiakim and during the time that I was governor and Ezra, a teacher of the Law of Moses, was priest.
Nehemiah Dedicates the City Wall
27 When the city wall was dedicated, Levites from everywhere in Judah were invited to join in the celebration with songs of praise and with the music of cymbals, small harps, and other stringed instruments. 28-29 The Levite singers lived in villages around Jerusalem, and so they came from there, as well as from the villages around Netophah, Beth-Gilgal, Geba, and Azmaveth. 30 The priests and Levites held special ceremonies to make themselves holy, and then they did the same for the rest of the people and for the gates and walls of the city.
31 I brought the leaders of Judah to the top of the city wall and put them in charge of the two groups that were to march around on top of the wall, singing praises to God. One group marched to the right in the direction of Garbage Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders followed them. 33 Then came the priests Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35 all of them blowing trumpets. Next, there was Zechariah of the Asaph clan 36 and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They played musical instruments like those that had been played by David, the man of God. And they marched behind Ezra, the teacher of the Law. 37 When they reached Fountain Gate, they climbed the steps to David's City and went past his palace, before stopping at the Water Gate near the eastern wall of the city.
38 The second group of singers marched along the wall in the opposite direction, and I followed them, together with the other half of the leaders of Judah. We went past Oven Tower, Broad Wall, 39 Ephraim Gate, Old Gate, Fish Gate, Hananel Tower, Hundred Tower, and on to Sheep Gate. Finally, we stopped at Gate of the Guard, 40 where we stood in front of the temple with the other group, praising God. In the group with me were half of the leaders, 41 as well as the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, who were blowing trumpets. 42 Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer also stood there, as Jezrahiah led the singers. 43 God had made the people very happy, and so on that day they celebrated and offered many sacrifices. The women and children joined in the festivities, and joyful shouts could be heard far from the city of Jerusalem.
Preparation for Worship
44 On that same day, some leaders were appointed to be responsible for the safekeeping of gifts for the temple and to be in charge of receiving the first part of the harvest and the ten percent of the crops and livestock that was offered to God. These same leaders also collected the part of crops that the Law of Moses taught was to be given to the Levites.
Everyone was pleased with the work of the priests and Levites, 45 when they performed the ceremonies to make people acceptable to worship God. And the singers and the temple guards did their jobs according to the instructions given by David and his son Solomon. 46 In fact, ever since the days of David and Asaph, there had been song leaders and songs of praise and worship. 47 During the time that Zerubbabel and I were in charge, everyone in Israel gave what they were supposed to give for the daily needs of the singers and temple guards from the Levi tribe. Then the Levites would give the priests their share from what they had received.
Ora Kohanii ndi Lewe'bai be ro
1 Kwoi ni orivoya kohanii ndi Lewe'bai se kegoyibe Zerubabela ŋgwa Salatiela ro ndi Jesua yibe owo; ànya ro ni: Seraya, Yeremaya, Ezera, 2 Amaria, Maluka, Atusa, 3 Sekania, Rehuma, Meremota, 4 Ido, Ginetoi, Abija, 5 Mijamina, Madai, Bilega, 6 Semaya, Joarima, Jedaya, 7 Salu, Amoka, Ilekia ndi Jedaya be. Lidri kwoi ni dri'bai kohanii cini azi ànyaro lako tu Jesua rosi owo.
8 Ago Lewe'bai ro ni: Jesua, Binui, Kademiela, Serebia, Yuda ndi Matania ndi azi anyaro be; dri'bai loŋgo mätu aro'boya oyero ro owo. 9 Ago Bakabukia ndi Unino azi anyaro yi edreyite miäwuäwu ro ànya yibe vo ruindu roya.
Zelevoi Jesua Kohani Fopara ro
10 Jesua ni täpi Joakima ro, Joakima ni täpi Eliasiba ro, Eliasiba ni täpi Yoyada ro; 11 Yoyada ni täpi Jonatana ro ago Jonatana ni täpi Jadua ro.
Dri'bai Käläsikalai Kohanii ro ro
12 Tu Joakima ro si, kohanii kwoi ni dri'bai käläsikalai Kohanii ro ro: Käläsikala Seraya ro ro ni: Meraya, Yeremaya ro ro ni: Anania; 13 Ezera ro ro ni: Mesulama, Amaria ro ro ni: Jonana, 14 Maluki ro ro ni: Jonatana, Sebania ro ro ni: Yosepa, 15 Arima ro ro ni: Adena, Mereyota ro ro ni: Elekia, 16 Ido ro ro ni: Zekaria, Ginetona ro ro ni: Mesulama, 17 Abija ro ro ni: Zikeri, Miniamina ndi Moadia robe ni: Piletai, 18 Bilega ro ro ni: Samua, Semaya ro ro ni: Jonatana; 19 Joariba ro ro ni: Matenai, Jedaya ro ro ni: Uzi, 20 Salai ro ro ni: Kalai, Amoka ro ro ni: Ebera, 21 Ilekia ro ro ni: Asabia, Jedaya ro ro ni: Netaniela.
Ora Katidrii Kohanii ndi Lewe'bai be ro
22 Ara ävuru dri'bai katidrii Lewe'bai ro ro ndi dri'bai katidrii kohani robe te tu Eliasiba, Yoyada, Joanana ndi Jadua be rosi, arate tu miri oriro Dariyasi 'bädri'ba Peresia'ba ro rosi.
23 Oko dri'bai katidrii Lewe'bai ro ro egyite Buku Ambâ roya, mada le tu Joanana kwozo Eliasiba ro rosi.
Ora Kama Losi Oyero Yekalu ya ro
24 Dri'bai Lewe'bai ro ni Asabai, Serebia, Jesua ŋgwa Kademiela ro ndi azii ànya robe se edreyite miäwuäwu ro räṛu ndi aro'boya be oyene drina oza oza ro, oso 'Bädri'ba Dawidi mano Lu ro kemba tana be ronye. 25 Matania, Bakabukia, Obadaya, Mesulama, talemona ndi Akuba be ni orivoya käläsii okwa'bai vo ŋgaodro ro se dereŋwai lomvo ro. 26 Lidri kwoi riyite tu Joakima ŋgwa Jesua ro kwozo Jozadaka ro rosi ago tu wari'ba Nemaya ro ndi kohani Ezera egyi'ba Ota ro rosi.
Nemaya ka Tiṛi 'Bakici ro Äṛu
27 Ondro ate tiṛi Yerusalema ro äṛu oko, ezi Lewe'bai teni vo cini se ànya koriyibe kigyesi yasi, Yerusalema ya karama tiṛi äṛuro oyene riyä si, aro'boya oyesi loŋgo si, araca usi si, lekyembe o'bi be ndi kudi yibe si. 28 Katidrii Lewe'bai ro loŋgo oŋgo'bai ro otoyikalate voaloya gbikyi ni Yerusalema lomvosi ago ni 'baŋwà se gbikyi Netofa'bai ro lomvosi yasi. 29 Kpa ni Betegilegala, Geba ndi Azemaveta be yasi tana loŋgo oŋgo'bai beyi 'baŋwà tero iyi ri gbikyi Yerusalema lomvosi. 30 Ago kohanii ndi Lewe'bai be wäṛiyi andivo ànyaro te ndi lidri, dereŋwà ndi tiṛi 'bakici robe.
31 'Dooko mambikala dri'bai lidri Yuda ro rote kuru tiṛi dri, ago manji gboko ritu 'desiro te abane gbikyi, ugu aro'boya oyebe.
Gboko alo aza oyite drigwo yaro tiṛi drisi Dereŋwa Kaŋwa ro driro. 32 Osabia sote ànya kundu ndi kpäkyi dri'bai Yuda ro ro esoyi gwo.
33 'Dooko Azaria, Ezera, Mesulama, 34 Yuda, Benjamina, Semaya ndi Yeremaya be esoyi gwo. 35 'Dooko kohanii azaka cekuṛe be: Zekaria ŋgwa Jonatana ro kwozo Semaya ro. Zutui ndaro azaka ni: Matania, Mikaya ndi Zakura be, käläsikala Asafa ro. 36 'Didiri Zakaria ro se kesobe nda vo ni: Semaya, Azerela, Milalai, Gilalai, Mai, Netaniela, Yuda ndi Anani be, tro lakazà loŋgo oŋgoro se Dawidi mano Lu ro kedebe ana be robe. Ezera egyi'ba 'dete mile ànyaro ya, 37 Ànya tuyite kuru ro Dereŋwa Gyi legwalegwaro ro yasi kotopa se uturo 'Bakici Dawidi roya ana yasi, lävuyite zo'desi miriro Dawidi ro yasi, ago egoyite tiṛi lomvo Dereŋwa Gyi ro 'buzelesi yasi.
38 Gboko äziri oyite gaṛi yasi tiṛi drisi, ago masote ànya vo telesi lidri robe, mòyite zowiṛa Vo ŋgala'diro yasi le Tiṛi Bäräŋgälä ya. 39 Ago ni nasi mòyi mälävu Dereŋwa Eperaima ro, Dereŋwa Uku ro, Dereŋwa Ti'bi ro, Tiṛiwiṛa Ananela ro, ndi zowiṛa Kama Alo robe te le Dereŋwa Timele roya. Mànde aba amaro te le Dereŋwa Vookwa'bai ro lomvo.
40 Ta'dota gboko riti se aro'boya oyero Lu ri ndi se loŋgo oŋgoro iyi be edreyite Yekalu ya, ndi mabe tro kpäkyi dri'bai se mabe iyi be. 41 'Dooko kohanii Eliakima, Maseya, Elionai, Zekaria ndi Anania be cekuṛe be, 42 ago se kesobe ànya vo ni: Maseya, Semaya, Eleazara, Uzi, Joanana, Malekija, Elama ndi Ezera be. Loŋgo oŋgo'bai ŋgoyi loŋgo te, Jezeraya ni dri'ba ànyaro. 43 Ago tu gi ana si ànya loyi tori tiṛiṛiro te; ago a'doyite riyä amba si tana Lu 'ba ànya te riyä oyene yai'dwe amba si. 'Ditoko ndi ŋgàga giṛiŋwà be yeyi riyä kpate, ago kporo riyä ro Yerusalema ya erite le lozo si.
Ŋgaozo ta Mätu ro Yekalu ya rota
44 Tu gi ana si aka'da lidri te a'done dri'bai ro zo ŋgaodroro dri, vose abe ŋgapäṛi Yekalu ro, doŋgodri kätii ndi ŋgapäṛi telesi alo 'bute ro o'ba kigye 'do. Lidri kwoi ni ŋgapäṛi kotone ni ämvu se loto 'bakicii lomvosi yasi, kohanii ndi Lewe'bai be ri oso Ota kolebe ronye. Lidri Yudai ro a'doyite riyä si ta ruindu ro kohanii ro ndi Lewe'bai robe rota. 45 Ànya yeyi losi ruindu ro Lu ànyaro rote ndi losi 'diwäṛi robe oso loŋgo oŋgo'bai ndi dereŋwa okwa'bai koyeyibe ronye oso 'Bädri'ba Dawidi ndi ŋgwa ndaro Solomo be kota be ronye. 46 Ṛoni kyeno tu 'Bädri'ba Dawidi rosi, ago ṛo kyeno tu Asafa rosi, dri'ba loŋgo oŋgoro ro orivoya ndi loŋgoi aro'boya oyero Lu ri be. 47 Ago tu Zerubabela ndi Nemaya be roya, lidri cini Yisaraele ro ozoyi ŋga te ondoro loŋgo oŋgo'bai ndi dereŋwa okwa'bai be ätiza, lidri ozo ŋgapäṛi alokado te Lewe'bai ri, ago Lewe'bai ozoyi ŋgase ozone kohanii ri 'do te.