1 N ow while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before God’s house, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very bitterly.

وَبَينَما كانَ عَزرا يُصَلِّي وَيَعتَرِفُ وَيَنُوحُ وَيَطرَحُ نَفسَهُ أمامَ بَيتِ اللهِ، انْضَمَّ إلَيهِ جَمعٌ كَبِيرٌ جِدّاً مِنْ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ، رِجالاً وَنِساءً وَأطفالاً، وَكانُوا يَبكُونَ بُكاءً مُرّاً.

2 S hecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.

وَقالَ شَكَنْيا بْنُ يَحِيئِيلَ، وَهُوَ مِنْ بَنِي عِيلامَ، لِعَزْرا: «لَقَد خُنّا إلَهَنا حِينَ اتَّخَذنا زَوجاتٍ غَرِيباتٍ مِنْ شُعُوبِ الأرْضِ. وَالآنَ ما زالَ يُوجَدُ لِشَعبِ اللهِ رَجاءٌ فِي هَذِهِ المَسألَةِ.

3 N ow therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law.

فَلْنَتَعَهَّدْ لإلَهِنا بِصَرفِ كُلِّ الزَّوجاتِ الغَرِيباتِ وَأولادِهِنَّ حَسَبَ نَصِيحَةِ سَيِّدِي عَزْرا وَالَّذِينَ يَحتَرِمُونَ وَصِيَّةَ إلَهِنا. وَلِيَتِمَّ الأمرُ بِحَسَبِ الشَّرِيعَةِ.

4 A rise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.”

قُمْ، فَإنَّ المَسؤُولِيَّةَ تَقَعُ عَلَى عاتِقِكَ فِي هَذا الأمرِ، وَسَنَدعَمُكَ نَحنُ. فَتَشَجَّعْ وَنَفِّذْ.»

5 T hen Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.

فَنَهَضَ عَزْرا وَحَلَّفَ الكَهَنَةَ وَاللّاوِيِّينَ وَكُلَّ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ أن يَفعَلُوا حَسَبَ كَلامَ شَكَنْيا، فَحَلَفُوا لَهُ.

6 T hen Ezra rose up from before God’s house, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity.

ثُمَّ مَضَى عَزْرا مِنْ أمامِ بَيتِ اللهِ وَدَخَلَ غُرفَةَ يَهُوحانانَ بْنِ ألِياشِيبَ، وَباتَ هُناكَ. وَلَمْ يَذُق طَعاماً وَلا شَراباً لأنَّهُ كانَ ما يَزالُ يَنُوحُ بِسَبَبِ تَمَرُّدِ الَّذِينَ رَجِعُوا مِنَ السَّبيِ.

7 T hey made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem;

وَأذاعُوا نِداءً فِي كُلِّ يَهُوذا وَمَدينَةِ القُدْسِ لِكُلِّ العائِدِينَ مِنَ السَّبيِ لِلاجتِماعِ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ،

8 a nd that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.

وَهَدَّدُوا بِمُصادَرَةِ مُمتَلَكاتِ كُلِّ مَنْ لا يَأتِي خِلالَ ثَلاثَةِ أيّامٍ حَسَبَ مَشُورَةِ القادَةِ وَالشُّيُوخِ، وَعَزلِهِ عَن جَماعَةِ العائِدِينَ مِنَ السَّبيِ.

9 T hen all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the wide place in front of God’s house, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

وَهَكَذا اجتَمَعَ كُلُّ رِجالِ يَهُوذا وَبَنْيامِيْنَ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ خِلالَ ثَلاثَةِ أيّامٍ. وَكانَ ذَلِكَ فِي العِشرِينَ مِنَ الشَّهرِ التّاسِعِ. وَجَلَسَ جَميعُ الشَّعبِ فِي ساحَةِ بَيتِ اللهِ، وَكانُوا يَرتَعِدُونَ بِسَبَبِ هَذِهِ المَسألَةِ وَالمَطَرِ الغَزِيرِ.

10 E zra the priest stood up, and said to them, “You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.

ثُمَّ وَقَفَ الكاهِنُ عَزْرا وَقالَ لَهُمْ: «قَدْ تَمَرَّدْتُمْ عَلَى اللهِ وَخُنْتُمُوهُ بِزَواجِكُمْ مِنْ نِساءٍ غَرِيباتٍ. فَزِدْتُمْ فِي إثمِ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ.

11 N ow therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.”

فَاعتَرِفُوا الآنَ للهِ ، إلَهِ آبائِنا، وَنَفِّذُوا مَشِيئَتَهُ. اعزِلُوا أنفُسَكُمْ عَن شُعُوبِ الأرْضِ، وَعَن نِسائِكُمُ الغَرِيباتِ!»

12 T hen all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “As you have said concerning us, so must we do.

فَأجابَ كُلُّ الجُّمهُورِ بِصَوتٍ عالٍ: «نَعَمْ! سَنَفعَلُ كَما قُلْتَ.

13 B ut the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside; neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.

لَكِنَّ المُجتَمِعُونَ هُنا كَثِيرُونَ، وَالطَقسُ ماطِرٌ جِدّاً. فَلا قُدرَةَ لَنا عَلَى الوُقُوفِ تَحْتَ المَطَرِ. وَهَذا الأمرُ لا يَتِمُّ فِي يَومٍ أوْ يَومَين، لأنَّنا قَدْ أسَأنا كَثِيراً.

14 L et now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter is resolved.”

فَليُمَثِّلْ قادَتُنا الجَّماعَةَ كُلَّها. وَلِيَأتِ كُلُّ الَّذِينَ تَزَوَّجُوا مِنْ نِساءٍ غَرِيباتٍ فِي أوقاتٍ مُعَيَّنَةٍ، وَمَعَهُمْ شُيُوخُ كُلِّ بَلدَةٍ وَقُضاتُها، إلَى أن يَزُولَ عَنّا غَضَبُ إلَهِنا المُتَّقِدِ فِي هَذِهِ المَسألَةِ.»

15 O nly Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

وَلَمْ يُعارِضْ هَذا الرَّأيَ إلّا يُوناثانُ بْنُ عَسائِيلَ وَيَحَزْيا بْنُ تِقْوَةَ، وَأيَّدَهُما فِي ذَلِكَ مَشُلّامُ وَشَبْتايُ اللّاوِيُّ.

16 T he children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

فَفَعَلَ هَذا العائِدُونَ مِنَ السَّبيِ. وَاختارَ عَزْرا الكاهِنُ رِجالاً مِنْ قادَةِ العَشائِرِ بِحَسَبِ تَقسِيماتِهِمْ لِتَمثِيلِها. وَتَمَّ تَعيِينُهُمْ كُلُّ واحِدٍ بِاسْمِهِ. وَفِي اليَومِ الأوَّلِ مِنَ الشَّهرِ العاشِرِ جَلَسُوا لِبَحثِ هَذِهِ المَسألَةِ،

17 T hey made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.

وَانتَهَوْا مِنَ مَسألَةِ كُلِّ الرِّجالِ الَّذِينَ تَزَوَّجُوا مِنْ نِساءٍ غَرِيباتٍ قَبلَ اليَومِ الأوَّلِ مِنَ الشَّهرِ الأوَّلِ مِنَ السَّنَةِ التّالِيَةِ. قائِمَةٌ بِالمُذنِبِين

18 A mong the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.

وَقَد وَجَدُوا أنَّ مِنْ بَينِ نَسلِ الكَهَنَةِ الَّذِينَ تَزَوَّجُوا مِنْ نِساءٍ غَرِيباتٍ مِنْ بَنِي يَشُوعَ بِنِ يُوصاداقَ وَإخوَتِهِ: مَعْسِيا وَألِيعَزَرُ وَيارِيبُ وَجَدَليا.

19 T hey gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.

وَقَد وَعَدُوا جَمِيعاً بِتَطلِيقِ نِسائِهِمْ، وَقَدَّمَ كُلُّ واحِدٍ مِنهُمْ كَبْشاً مِنْ قَطِيعِهِ عَن إثمِهِ.

20 O f the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

وَمِن بَنِي إمِّيرَ: حَنانِي وَزَبْدِيا.

21 O f the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.

وَمِن بَنِي حارِيمَ: مَعْسِيّا وَإيلِيّا وَشَمْعِيا وَيَحِئِيلُ وَعُزِّيّا.

22 O f the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

وَمِن بَنِي فَشْحُورَ: ألِيُوعِينايُ وَمَعْسِيّا وَإسْماعِيلُ وَنَثنائِيلُ وَيُوزابادُ وَألْعاسَةُ.

23 O f the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

وَمِنَ اللّاوِيِّينَ: يُوزابادُ وَشَمْعَى وَقَلايا – أي قَلِيطا – وَفَتَحْيا وَيَهُوذا وَألِيعَزَرُ.

24 O f the singers: Eliashib. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

وَمِنَ المُرَّنِّمِينَ: ألْياشِيبُ، وَمِن حُرّاسِ البَوّاباتِ، شَلُّومُ وَطالَمُ وَأُورِي.

25 O f Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.

وَمِن بَقِيَّةِ بَنِي إسْرائِيلَ: مِنْ بَنِي فَرْعُوشَ رَمْيا وَيَزِّيّا وَمَلْكِيّا وَمِيّامِينُ وَألعازارُ وَمَلْكِيّا وَبَنايا.

26 O f the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.

وَمِن بَنِي عِيلامَ، مَتَّنْيا وَزَكَرِيّا وَيَحِيئِيلُ وَعَبْدِي وَيَرِيمُوثُ وَإيلِيّا.

27 O f the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

وَمِن بَنِي زَتُّو، ألْيُوْعِينايُ وَألْياشِيبُ وَمَتَّنْيا وَيَرِيمُوثُ وَزابادُ وَعَزِيزا.

28 O f the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.

وَمِن بَنِي بابايَ، يَهُوحانانُ وَحَنَنْيا وَزَبايُ وَعَثلايُ.

29 O f the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.

وَمِن بَنِي بانِي، مَشُلّامُ وَمَلُّوخُ وَعَدايا وَياشُوبُ وَشَآلُ وَرامُوثُ.

30 O f the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.

وَمِن بَنِي فَحَثَ مُوآبَ، عَدْنا وَكَلالُ وَبَنايا وَمَعْسِيا وَمَتَّنْيا وَبَصَلْئِيلُ وَبَنُّويُ وَمَنَسَّى.

31 O f the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

وَمِن بَنِي حارِيمَ: ألِيعَزَرُ وَيِشِّيّا وَمَلْكِيّا وَشِمْعِيا وَشِمْعُونُ.

32 B enjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.

وَبَنْيامِيْنُ وَمَلُّوخُ وَشَمَرْيا.

33 O f the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.

وَمِن بَنِي حَشُومَ: مَتَّنايُ وَمَتّاثا وَزابادُ وَألِيفَلَطُ وَيَرِيمايُ وَمَنَسَّى وَشَمْعَى.

34 O f the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,

وَمِن بَنِي بانِي: مَعَدايُ وَعَمْرامُ وَأُوئِيلُ.

35 B enaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,

وَبَنايا وَبِيدْيا وَكَلُوهِي،

36 V aniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

وَوَنْيا وَمَرِيمُوثُ وَألْياشِيبُ،

37 M attaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,

وَمَتَّنْيا وَمَتَّنايُ وَيَعْسُو.

38 a nd Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

وَمِنْ بَنِي بِنُّويَ: شَمْعَى،

39 a nd Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,

وَشَلَمْيا وَناثانُ وَعَدايا،

40 M achnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

وَمَكْنَدْبايُ وَشاشايُ وَشارايُ،

41 A zarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,

وَعَزَرْئِيلُ وَشَلْمِيا وَشَمَرْيا،

42 S hallum, Amariah, Joseph.

وَشَلُّومُ وَأمَرْيا وَيُوسُفُ.

43 O f the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.

وَمِن بَنِي نَبُو: يَعِيئِيلُ وَمَتَّثْيا وَزابادُ وَزَبِينا وَيَدُّو وَيُوئِيلُ وَبَنايا.

44 A ll these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

تَزَوَّجَ هَؤلاءِ جَمِيعاً مِنْ نِساءٍ أجنَبِيّاتٍ، وَأنجَبُوا مِنهُنَّ أولاداً.