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Today's Bible Reading :: Nehemiah 1 - 3 (ESV)

Nehemiah 1Listen to the passage

Nehemiah 2Listen to the passage

Nehemiah 3Listen to the passage

Nehemiah 1

Report from Jerusalem

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:1

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:1 - The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:2

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:2 - that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:3

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:3 - And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

Nehemiah’s Prayer

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:4

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:4 - As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:5

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:5 - And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:6

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:6 - let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:7

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:7 - We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:8

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:8 - Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:9

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:9 - but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:10

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:10 - They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 1:11

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 1:11 - O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah Sent to Judah

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:1

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:1 - In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:2

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:2 - And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:3

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:3 - I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:4

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:4 - Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:5

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:5 - And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:6

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:6 - And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:7

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:7 - And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:8

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:8 - and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:9

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:9 - Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:10

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:10 - But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:11

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:11 - So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:12

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:12 - Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:13

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:13 - I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:14

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:14 - Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:15

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:15 - Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:16

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:16 - And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:17

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:17 - Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:18

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:18 - And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:19

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:19 - But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 2:20

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 2:20 - Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim[fn] in Jerusalem.”
ESV Footnotes
Or memorial

Nehemiah 3

Rebuilding the Wall

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:1

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:1 - Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:2

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:2 - And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them[fn] Zaccur the son of Imri built.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:3

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:3 - The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:4

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:4 - And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:5

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:5 - And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:6

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:6 - Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah.[fn] They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:7

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:7 - And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:8

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:8 - Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:9

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:9 - Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of[fn] Jerusalem, repaired.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:10

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:10 - Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:11

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:11 - Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:12

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:12 - Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:13

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:13 - Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits[fn] of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:14

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:14 - Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:15

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:15 - And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:16

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:16 - After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:17

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:17 - After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:18

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:18 - After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:19

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:19 - Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress.[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:20

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:20 - After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired[fn] another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:21

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:21 - After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:22

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:22 - After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:23

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:23 - After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:24

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:24 - After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:25

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:25 - Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:26

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:26 - and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:27

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:27 - After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:28

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:28 - Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:29

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:29 - After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:30

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:30 - After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:31

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:31 - After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate,[fn] and to the upper chamber of the corner.

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Unchecked Copy Box Neh 3:32

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 3:32 - And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
Hebrew him
Or lords
Or of the old city
Or foreman of half the portion assigned to; also verses 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
Or corner; also verses 20, 24, 25
Some manuscripts vigorously repaired
Or Hammiphkad Gate
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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