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.
Omana wovapristeri nowOvalevi
1 Omana wovapristeri nowOvalevi mba kotokere okuza kouhuura puna Serubabel, omuzandu wa Sealtiel, nOmupristeri Otjiuru Jesua, owo nga:
2 Ovapristeri va ri:
Seraja na Jeremia na Esra
na Amarja na Maluk na Hatus,
3 na Sekania na Harim na Meremot,
4 na Ido na Gineton na Abija,
5 na Mijamin na Maadja na Bilga,
6 na Semaja na Jojarib na Jedaja,
7 na Salu na Amok na Hilkija na Jedaja.
Ovarumendu mba va ri ovanane mokati kovapristeri ovakwao avehe momayuva wa Jesua.
8 Ovalevi, mba ri notjiungura tjokuimbura omaimburiro wondangero, owo mba: OoJesua na Binui na Kadmiel na Serebja na Juda na Matanja.
9 Nu imba mbaa ve imbura omaziriro wopokati komazeva, owo mba: OoBakbukja na Uno nOvalevi ovakwao.
Ozondekurona zOmupristeri Otjiuru Jesua
10 Jesua wa ri ihe ya Jojakim ngwa kwata Eljasib, ngwa za mu Jojada. 11 Jojada wa ri ihe ya Jonatan ngwa kwata Jadua.
Oviuru vyozonganda zovapristeri
12 Jojakim ngunda e ri Omupristeri Otjiuru, ovapristeri, mba ri oviuru vyozonganda zawo, owo mba:
Meraja wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Seraja,
Hananja wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Jirmeja.
13 Mesulam wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Esra,
Johanan wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Amarja.
14 Jonatan wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Maluk,
Josef wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Sebanja.
15 Adna wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Harim,
Helkai wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Meremot.
16 Sakaria otjiuru tjonganda ya Ido,
Mesulam wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Gineton.
17 Sikri wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Abija,
omupristeri worive wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Mijamin,
Piltai wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Maadja.
18 Samua wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Bilga,
Jonatan wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Semaja.
19 Matenai wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Jojarib,
Usi wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Jedaja.
20 Kalai wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Salu,
Eber wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Amok.
21 Hasabja wa ri otjiuru tjonganda ya Jedaja.
Omatjangero womaṱunḓu wovapristeri nowOvalevi
22 Pa ri omatjangero woviuru vyomaṱunḓu wOvalevi nowovapristeri, Ovapristeri Oviuru mba ngunda ave nomuinyo: OoEljasib na Jojada na Johanan na Jadua. Omatjangero nga ya manuka okutjangwa moruveze rwouhona wa Darius, ombara ya Persie.
23 Nungwari oviuru vyomaṱunḓu wOvalevi vya tjangwa momatjangwa wEkuruhungi nga moruveze rwomupristeri Johanan, ondekurona ya Eljasib.
Omahaṋeno woviungura mondjuwo ya Muhona
24 Ovalevi va woronganisiwa movimbumba vivari kehi yovaimburise Hasabja na Serebja na Jesua na Binui na Kadmiel. Ovimbumba vivari mbya hungamasanene vya imburira Ndjambi amavi mu tanga nokutja okuhepa ku ye amau itaverasana otja komahongero wombara David, omukarere wa Ndjambi.
25 Ovatjevere vondjuwo ya Muhona, mba ri notjiungura tjokuṱakamisa omatuwo womapwikiro pomivero vyondjuwo ya Muhona, owo mba: OoMatanja na Bakbukja na Obadja na Mesulam na Talmon na Akub.
26 Ovandu mbo ombari ko momayuva wa Jojakim, omuzandu wa Jesua nondekurona ya Josadak, na momayuva wa Nehemia, ongooneya, na momayuva wa Esra, omupristeri ngwa ri onongo yOmatwako.
Nehemia ma yapura orumbo rwotjihuro
27 Orumbo rwotjihuro Jerusalem tji rwa yapurwa, Ovalevi otji va isanewa okuza koṋa ngamwa akuhe kaave tura kutja ve wane novakwao mokunyanda omayapuriro nga amave imbura omaimburiro wokutja okuhepa, nu amave nyanda ovihumba noviharpe. 28 Omaṱunḓu omaimbure wOvalevi ya wana okuza komikuma ku ya turire okukondoroka Jerusalem, nokuza kovirongo mbya kondoroka Netofa, 29 nokuza kObet-Gilgal na Geba na Asmawet. 30 Ovapristeri nOvalevi ve rikohorora oveni; tjazumba ave kohorora otjiwaṋa nomivero norumbo rwotjihuro.
31 Ami mba woronganisa ovanane vOvajuda kombanda yorumbo, ne ziki ovimbumba vivari ovinene vyovaimbure kutja vi kondoroke otjihuro, amavi yandja okuhepa ku Ndjambi.
Otjimbumba otjitenga tja kayenda komukuma wokokunene kombanda yorumbo atja hungama Omuvero wOviyaya. 32 Hosaja wa kayenda kongotwe yovaimbure ama kongorerwa i ohinga yovanane vOvajuda. 33-35 Ovapristeri mba kongorera orumbembera ndwi amave tono ozohiva, owo mba: OoAsarja na Esra na Mesulam na Juda na Benjamin na Semaja na Jirmeja. Tjazumba ape kongorere Sakaria, omuzandu wa Jonatan, omuzandu wa Semaja, omuzandu wa Matanja, omuzandu wa Mikaja, omuzandu wa Sakur, omuzandu wa Asaf. 36 Eye wa kongorerwa i ovakwao vonganda ye: OoSemaja na Asarel na Milalai na Gilalai na Maai na Netanel na Juda na Hanani; avehe mba aave tjindi ovinangoma tjimuna imbi mbyaa vi nyandwa i ombara David, omukarere wa Ndjambi. Esra, onongo yOmatwako, ongwa hongorera otjimbumba hi momakayendero. 37 Pomuvero wOruharwi owo va ronda ozondondo nḓe yenda kOtjihuro tja David, ave kapita ondjuwo ya David youhona, nave kotoka korumbo pOmuvero wOmeva komukuma wokomuhuka wotjihuro.
38 Otjimbumba otjikwao tjaimba mba tja okuhepa tja ya komukuma wokokumuho kombanda yorumbo, nami mbe tji kongorera norumbembera orukwao rwotjiwaṋa. Twa kayenda atu kapita Oruhungu rwOmazuko okuyenda kEkuma Epapi, 39 nokuzambo twa kapita Omuvero wa Efraim nOmuvero wa Jesana nOmuvero wEhundju, nOruhungu rwa Hananel nOruhungu rwEsere nga kOmuvero wOzonḓu. Omakayendero wetu twe keyeyandisira popezu nomuvero wondjuwo ya Muhona.
40 Ovira mbi aviyevari mbya tja okuhepa ku Ndjambi otji vya kavaza korupanda rwondjuwo ya Muhona.
Puna ovanane, mba ri puna ami, otjimbumba tjandje tja ri novapristeri mba mbaa ve tono ozohiva: 41 OoEljakim na Maaseja na Mijamin na Mikaja na Eljoenai na Sakaria na Hananja; 42 nowo aave kongorerwa i Maaseja na Semaja na Eleasar na Usi na Johanan na Malkija na Elam na Eser. Ovaimbure mbaa ve hongorerwa i Jisrakja aave imbura nomasa tjinene.
43 Meyuva ndo pa punguhwa ozombunguhiro ozengi, notjiwaṋa tja ri nondjoroka onene, Ndjambi tjinga e tji nyandisa omitima tjinene. Ovakazendu novanatje va yoroka wina, nondjoroka owo avehe ndjaave tjiti, aa i zuvakere kokure tjinene.
Oviyambo vyomerikotameneno mondjuwo ya Muhona
44 Moruveze ndo mwa ri ovarumendu mba twirwe motjiungura tjokuṱakamisa omatuwo womapwikiro maa mu pwikirwa oviyambo vyondjuwo ya Muhona, na wina otjitjamurongo tjoviṋa avihe, novitengakuhora vyovikokotwa novyovihape mbyaa vi horo ombura aihe. Ovarumendu mba omba ri nousemba wokuwonga oviyambo mozohambo nḓa ri popezu novihuro pekepeke, mbi sokuyandjewa kovapristeri nOvalevi otja tji pa tjangwa mOmatwako. Ovajuda avehe va ri nohange novapristeri nOvalevi, 45 owo tjinga ava ungura oviungura oviyapuke vyomakohororero novikwao vyarwe Ndjambi mbya rakizire. Ovaimbure novatjevere vondjuwo ya Muhona wina va ungura oviungura vyawo otja komazikamisiro, nga tjitwa i ombara David nomuzandu we Salomo. 46 Okuza koruveze orukuru rwombara David norwomuimbure Asaf, ovaimbure ozohongora aave hongorere ovandu nomaimburiro wondangero nowokutja okuhepa ku Ndjambi. 47 Moruveze rwa Serubabel na moruveze rwa Nehemia wina Ovaisrael avehe ave yandja oviyandjewa vyeyuva arihe kokuvatera ovaimbure novatjevere vondjuwo ya Muhona. Otjiwaṋa aatji yandja oviyambo oviyapuke kOvalevi, nu imba Ovalevi ave yandja orukondwa ndwa pwa kovapristeri.
