Nehemiah 12:22-43

22During the time when Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua were the leaders of the priests, they recorded the names of the Levites and the priests who were leaders of their clans. At the time when King Darius ruled Persia, they stopped doing this.

23They wrote the names of Levi's descendants who were leaders of their clans in the history book of Israel. They did that until the time of Eliashib's son, Johanan.

24The leaders of the Levites were: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Kadmiel's son, Jeshua, and their relatives. The two groups stood opposite each other to sing and praise and thank God. They did this in the way that God's servant, King David, had commanded.

25The guards for the temple gates were: Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub. They watched the temple rooms near the gates, where they stored special things.

26They served as guards in the time of Joiakim, son of Jeshua and grandson of Jozadak. This was in the time when Nehemiah had authority over Judah, and Ezra the priest was teaching people God's Law.

27This is what happened when we dedicated the wall of Jerusalem to God. The people told the Levites to come to Jerusalem from the places where they lived. They wanted the Levites to help them to praise God with joy. The Levites would sing songs to thank God. They would make music with cymbals, harps and lyres.

28The temple singers came together from places near Jerusalem. They came from villages round Netophah,

29and from Beth Gilgal, Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built these villages so that they could live near to Jerusalem.

30The priests and the Levites made themselves clean to serve God. Then they made the people clean, as well as the city's gates and its wall.

31I took the leaders of Judah to go and stand on top of the wall. I chose two large groups of singers to thank God with songs. I told the first group to walk along the wall to the south, in the direction of the Dung Gate.

32Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed this group of singers.

33Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,

34Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah and Jeremiah also followed them.

35Some priests with trumpets went with them. They included Jonathan's son, Zechariah. He was a descendant of Asaph, through Shemaiah, Mattaniah, Micaiah and Zaccur, Asaph's son.

36These other people helped Zechariah: Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani. They all had musical instruments, as King David had told them. Ezra, the teacher of God's Law, led this group of people.

37When they arrived at the Fountain Gate they all went up the steps of the City of David. While they went up the steps, they passed King David's palace. Then they continued along the wall to the Water Gate, on the east side of the city.

38The second group of singers went in the opposite direction. I followed them along the top of the wall, with half of the people. We went past the Tower of the Ovens and we continued to the Broad Wall.

39Then we went over the Gate of Ephraim and over the Jeshanah Gate. We went along to the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred and the Sheep Gate. We stopped at the Gate of the Guards.

40Then the two groups of singers went to stand in the yard of God's temple. I went with them, together with half of the officers.

41The priests who had trumpets were there: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah.

42Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer followed them. Jezrahiah led the groups of singers, so that they sang loudly.

43On that day, the people offered many sacrifices to God. They were full of joy because God had caused them to be very happy. Men, women and children were all shouting with joy. Far away from the city, people could hear the noise!