So my God gave me the idea and encouraged me to gather the people together. He also encouraged me to gather the nobles and officials together with them. He wanted me to list them by families. I found the family history of those who had been the first to return. Here is what I found written in it.

我的神感动我心，招聚贵胄、官长，和百姓，要照家谱计算。我找着第一次上来之人的家谱，其上写着：

我的上帝感动我的心，我就召集贵族、官长和百姓，要登记家谱。我找到第一次上来之人的家谱，发现上面写着：

我的神感动我的心，我就召集贵族、官长和百姓，要登记家谱。我找到第一次上来之人的家谱，发现上面写着：

我的上帝感动我召集贵族、官员和民众，按照他们的家谱进行登记。我找到第一批回归之人的家谱，上面记着：

我的神使我的心定意，召集贵族、官长和人民，要照家谱登记。我找到头一次上来的人的家谱，我找到的家谱上面写着：

我的神感動我心，招聚貴冑、官長，和百姓，要照家譜計算。我找着第一次上來之人的家譜，其上寫着：

我的上帝感動我的心，我就召集貴族、官長和百姓，要登記家譜。我找到第一次上來之人的家譜，發現上面寫着：

我的神感動我的心，我就召集貴族、官長和百姓，要登記家譜。我找到第一次上來之人的家譜，發現上面寫着：

我的上帝感動我召集貴族、官員和民眾，按照他們的家譜進行登記。我找到第一批回歸之人的家譜，上面記著：

我的神使我的心定意，召集貴族、官長和人民，要照家譜登記。我找到頭一次上來的人的家譜，我找到的家譜上面寫著：

我的上帝使我心裏起意，我便招集了顯貴的人、官長和人民、要登記家譜。我找着頭一次上來的人的家譜；見那上頭寫着說：

我上帝感我之心、集諸顯者、民長庶民、循其譜系核之、初歸者之譜系、為我所得、載曰、

上帝感我、聚諸世職、群伯、庶民、考其譜系、統核其數、初歸故土者、名登於册、其册為我所得、上載曰、

我天主感我、我聚諸顯者、民長、庶民、稽其譜系、我得初歸者之譜系、上載曰、

So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there:

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

So my God gave me the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders of the city, along with the ordinary citizens, for registration. I had found the genealogical record of those who had first returned to Judah. This is what was written there:

Then my God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it:

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the other people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first, in which I found the following record:

Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it:

And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of them that came up at the first, and I found written therein:

Then my God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. I found the genealogical record of those who came back first, and I found the following written in it:

And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,

My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record:

My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:

The priests looked for their family records. But they couldn’t find them. So they weren’t able to serve as priests. They were“ unclean.”

You are my God. Remember what Tobiah and Sanballat have done. Also remember the prophet Noadiah. She and the rest of the prophets have been trying to scare me.

But because of God’s grace I am what I am. And his grace was not wasted on me. No, I have worked harder than all the other apostles. But I didn’t do the work. God’s grace was with me.

In ourselves we are not able to claim anything for ourselves. The power to do what we do comes from God.

That’s what I’m working for. I work hard with all the strength of Christ. His strength works powerfully in me.

So here is what I, Ezra, say to you people of Israel.“ Give praise to the Lord. He is the God of our people who lived long ago. He has put it in the king’s heart to bring honor to the Lord’ s temple in Jerusalem. The king has honored the Lord in his letter.

You are my God. Please remember me and help me. Keep in mind everything I’ve done for these people.

The whole community of Israel was listed in their family histories. They were written down in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. The people of Judah were taken away from their own land. They were taken as prisoners to Babylon. That’s because they weren’t faithful to the Lord.The first people who came back from Babylon were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. They made their homes again in their own towns on their own property.Some of them lived in Jerusalem. They included people from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh.They included Uthai. He was the son of Ammihud. Ammihud was the son of Omri. Omri was the son of Imri. Imri was the son of Bani. Bani belonged to the family line of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah.The family line of Shelah included his oldest son Asaiah. It also included the sons of Asaiah.The family line of Zerah included Jeuel. The total number of the people of Judah was 690.The family line of Benjamin included Sallu. He was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Hodaviah. Hodaviah was the son of Hassenuah.Ibneiah was the son of Jeroham. Elah was the son of Uzzi. Uzzi was the son of Mikri. Meshullam was the son of Shephatiah. Shephatiah was the son of Reuel. Reuel was the son of Ibnijah.The total number of the people of Benjamin was 956. They were listed in their family history. All these men were the leaders of their families.

My dear brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone fool you.

My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling.God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to fulfill his good purpose.

The priests looked for their family records. But they couldn’t find them. So they weren’t able to serve as priests. They weren’t“ clean.”

God put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. Thanks should be given to God for this.