Nehemiah 12

Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

These were the devoted priests and Levites who journeyed with Zerubbabel, Shealtiel's son, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, and Ezra.

Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

Amariah, Malluch, and Hattush - three individuals, each with their own unique spirit and purpose, bound together by faith and destiny.

Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

Shechaniah, Rehum, and Meremoth, each with their own unique essence and spirit, radiated a divine presence that was deeply felt and understood.

Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,

Iddo, Ginnetho, and Abijah - three individuals, each with their own unique stories and experiences, yet united in their shared faith and purpose.

Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah - these names, filled with strength and devotion, echo through the ages, stirring the heart with their profound resonance.

Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,

Shemaiah, Joiarib, and Jedaiah, three individuals, each with their own unique spirit and purpose, intertwined by faith and destiny.

Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah were the respected leaders among their fellow priests during Jeshua's time.

Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.

The Levites, including Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, were responsible for expressing gratitude. Mattaniah, along with his brothers, led this heartfelt task.

Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.

Bakbukiah and Unni, their fellow Levites, stood opposite them in the temple services, their hearts filled with dedication.

And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

Jeshua lovingly fathered Joiakim, who in turn, with great pride, brought forth Eliashib. And from Eliashib, with joy and hope, came Joiada.

And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.

Joiada lovingly brought Jonathan into the world, and in turn, Jonathan joyfully welcomed Jaddua as his own.

And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

During Joiakim's time, the leading priests were Seraiah's son Meraiah and Jeremiah's son Hananiah.

Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;

Meshullam led the family of Ezra, and Jehohanan the family of Amariah.

Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;

Melicu's lineage gave us Jonathan, while from Shebaniah, we received Joseph.

Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;

From the lineage of Harim came Adna, a person of strong faith; from the descendants of Meraioth emerged Helkai, a beacon of hope.

Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

From the lineage of Iddo came Zechariah, filled with wisdom and strength. From the house of Ginnethon, emerged Meshullam, a beacon of hope and resilience.

Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai:

From the lineage of Abijah, came the passionate Zichri. From Miniamin and Moadiah, emerged the wise Piltai.

Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;

Shammua led the family of Bilgah, and Jehonathan the family of Shemaiah.

And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;

From Joiarib came Mattenai, and from Jedaiah, Uzzi was born.

Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;

From Sallai, came Kallai; from Amok, sprouted Eber; each lineage filled with hope and promise.

Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

From Hilkiah came Hashabiah, and from Jedaiah sprang Nethaneel.

The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.

During the times of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the heads of the Levite families were recorded, and the priests' as well, up to the rule of Darius the Persian.

The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.

The descendants of Levi, the head of the family, were recorded in the historical records, all the way up to the time of Johanan, Eliashib's son.

And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.

The leaders of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua, son of Kadmiel, stood with their fellow Levites facing them. They were there to sing praises and express gratitude, following the instructions given by David, the man of God, one group answering the other.

Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.

Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub, were humble gatekeepers, faithfully standing guard at the city's entrances.

These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.

These men served in the days of Joiakim, Jeshua's son and Jozadak's grandson, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe.

And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

When Jerusalem's wall was finally complete, they eagerly called upon the Levites from every corner, inviting them to join the joyous celebration in the city. Their hearts were filled with gratitude and happiness, expressed through songs, the ringing of cymbals, the strumming of harps, and the playing of psalteries.

And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

The choir's sons, filled with anticipation, came together, traveling from the surrounding plains of Jerusalem and the small villages of Netophathi.

Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

From the heart of Gilgal and the fertile lands of Geba and Azmaveth, the singers had lovingly crafted their homes, creating a harmonious community encircling Jerusalem.

And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

The priests and Levites purified themselves, and then they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

I brought Judah's leaders up onto the wall and appointed two large choirs to give thanks. One group moved right along the top of the wall, heading toward the Dung Gate.

And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

Following them, Hoshaiah and half of Judah's leaders moved forward,

And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, these three, filled with faith and purpose, stood firm.

Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah - these men, filled with faith and courage, stood strong and unwavering in their devotion.

And certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:

Among the sons of priests, there was Zechariah. He was a descendant of Jonathan, Shemaiah, Mattaniah, Michaiah, Zaccur, and Asaph. He was known for his skill with the trumpet.

And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

His brothers - Shemaiah, Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, Judah, and Hanani - stood together, their hearts beating in unison. They held the sacred musical instruments once played by David, a man of God. Ezra, the wise scribe, guided them, his presence a comforting beacon.

And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.

They climbed the city stairs, opposite the fountain gate, ascending the wall above David's house, heading towards the eastern water gate.

And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;

The other grateful group went the opposite way, and I followed them with half of the people along the top of the wall, from the tower of the furnaces to the broad wall. Their emotions were palpable, a mix of anticipation and gratitude.

And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.

From Ephraim's gate to the ancient entrance, past the fish gate, the towers of Hananeel and Meah, all the way to the sheep gate, they paused, standing solemnly at the prison gate.

So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:

Thus, the two grateful groups stood in God's house, with me and half of the leaders by my side.

And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;

Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, the devoted priests, passionately played their trumpets.

And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer, all stood together. Their voices rose in a powerful chorus, led by their passionate conductor, Jezrahiah.

Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

That day, they celebrated with grand offerings, their hearts filled with joy. God had filled them with immense happiness. Women, children, everyone was jubilant. The joyous echoes of Jerusalem could be heard even in the farthest corners.

And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

During that period, certain individuals were chosen to oversee the storehouses of treasures, offerings, and first harvests. They were tasked with collecting the required portions from the city fields for the priests and Levites. This was a time of joy for Judah, as they greatly appreciated their priests and Levites.

And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.

The singers and gatekeepers faithfully served their God, dutifully following the purification rituals as instructed by David and his son Solomon.

For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.

Back in the time of David and Asaph, there were lead singers who passionately sang songs of gratitude and praise to God.

And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.

During the times of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all of Israel generously provided for the singers and gatekeepers daily. They also set aside sacred offerings for the Levites, who in turn, dedicated them to Aaron's descendants.