1On that day3117 they read7121 in the book5612 of Moses4872 in the audience241 of the people5971; and therein was found4672 written3789, that the Ammonite5984 and the Moabite4125 should not come935 into the congregation6951 of God430 for5704 ever5769;
2Because they met6923 not the children1121 of Israel3478 with bread3899 and with water4325, but hired7936 Balaam1109 against them, that he should curse7043 them: howbeit our God430 turned2015 the curse7045 into a blessing1293.
3Now it came to pass, when they had heard8085 the law8451, that they separated914 from Israel3478 all the mixed multitude6154.
4And before6440 this, Eliashib475 the priest3548, having the oversight5414 of the chamber3957 of the house1004 of our God430, was allied7138 unto Tobiah2900:
5And he had prepared6213 for him a great1419 chamber3957, where aforetime6440 they laid5414 the meat offerings4503, the frankincense3828, and the vessels3627, and the tithes4643 of the corn1715, the new wine8492, and the oil3323, which was commanded4687 to be given to the Levites3881, and the singers7891, and the porters7778; and the offerings8641 of the priests3548.
6But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem3389: for in the two8147 and thirtieth7970 year8141 of Artaxerxes783 king4428 of Babylon894 came935 I unto the king4428, and after7093 certain days3117 obtained I leave7592 of the king4428:
7And I came935 to Jerusalem3389, and understood995 of the evil7451 that Eliashib475 did6213 for Tobiah2900, in preparing6213 him a chamber5393 in the courts2691 of the house1004 of God430.
8And it grieved3415 me sore3966: therefore I cast forth7993 all the household1004 stuff3627 of Tobiah2900 out of2351 the chamber3957.
9Then I commanded559, and they cleansed2891 the chambers3957: and thither brought I again7725 the vessels3627 of the house1004 of God430, with the meat offering4503 and the frankincense3828.
10And I perceived3045 that the portions4521 of the Levites3881 had not been given5414 them: for the Levites3881 and the singers7891, that did6213 the work4399, were fled1272 every one376 to his field7704.
11Then contended7378 I with the rulers5461, and said559, Why is the house1004 of God430 forsaken5800? And I gathered them together6908, and set5975 them in their place5977.
12Then brought935 all Judah3063 the tithe4643 of the corn1715 and the new wine8492 and the oil3323 unto the treasuries214.
13And I made treasurers686 over the treasuries214, Shelemiah8018 the priest3548, and Zadok6659 the scribe5608, and of the Levites3881, Pedaiah6305: and next to them3027 was Hanan2605 the son1121 of Zaccur2139, the son1121 of Mattaniah4983: for they were counted2803 faithful539, and their office was to distribute2505 unto their brethren251.
14Remember2142 me, O my God430, concerning this, and wipe not out4229 my good2617 deeds that I have done6213 for the house1004 of my God430, and for the offices4929 thereof.
15In those days3117 saw7200 I in Judah3063 some treading1869 wine presses1660 on the sabbath7676, and bringing in935 sheaves6194, and lading6006 asses2543; as also wine3196, grapes6025, and figs8384, and all manner of burdens4853, which they brought935 into Jerusalem3389 on the sabbath7676 day3117: and I testified5749 against them in the day3117 wherein they sold4376 victuals6718.
16There dwelt3427 men of Tyre6876 also therein, which brought935 fish1709 1709, and all manner of ware4377, and sold4376 on the sabbath7676 unto the children1121 of Judah3063, and in Jerusalem3389.
17Then I contended7378 with the nobles2715 of Judah3063, and said559 unto them, What evil7451 thing1697 is this that ye do6213, and profane2490 the sabbath7676 day3117?
18Did6213 not your fathers1 thus, and did935 not our God430 bring935 all this evil7451 upon us, and upon this city5892? yet ye bring935 more3254 wrath2740 upon Israel3478 by profaning2490 the sabbath7676.
19And it came to pass, that when the gates8179 of Jerusalem3389 began to be dark6751 before6440 the sabbath7676, I commanded559 that the gates1817 should be shut5462, and charged559 that they should not be opened6605 till after310 the sabbath7676: and some of my servants5288 set5975 I at the gates8179, that there should no burden4853 be brought in935 on the sabbath7676 day3117.
20So the merchants7402 and sellers4376 of all kind of ware4465 lodged3885 without2351 Jerusalem3389 once6471 or twice8147.
21Then I testified5749 against them, and said559 unto them, Why lodge3885 ye about5048 the wall2346? if ye do so again8138, I will lay7971 hands3027 on you. From that time6256 forth came935 they no more on the sabbath7676.
22And I commanded559 the Levites3881 that they should cleanse2891 themselves, and that they should come935 and keep8104 the gates8179, to sanctify6942 the sabbath7676 day3117. Remember2142 me, O my God430, concerning this also, and spare2347 me according to the greatness7230 of thy mercy2617.
23In those days3117 also saw7200 I Jews3064 that had married3427 wives802 of Ashdod796, of Ammon5984, and of Moab4125:
24And their children1121 spake1696 half2677 in the speech of Ashdod797, and could5234 not speak1696 in the Jews' language3066, but according to the language3956 of each5971 people5971.
25And I contended7378 with them, and cursed7043 them, and smote5221 certain582 of them, and plucked off their hair4803, and made them swear7650 by God430, saying, Ye shall not give5414 your daughters1323 unto their sons1121, nor take5375 their daughters1323 unto your sons1121, or for yourselves.
26Did not Solomon8010 king4428 of Israel3478 sin2398 by these things? yet among many7227 nations1471 was there no king4428 like him, who was beloved157 of his God430, and God430 made5414 him king4428 over all Israel3478: nevertheless even him1571 did outlandish5237 women802 cause to sin2398.
27Shall we then hearken8085 unto you to do6213 all this great1419 evil7451, to transgress4603 against our God430 in marrying3427 strange5237 wives802?
28And one of the sons1121 of Joiada3111, the son1121 of Eliashib475 the high1419 priest3548, was son in law2860 to Sanballat5571 the Horonite2772: therefore I chased1272 him from me.
29Remember2142 them, O my God430, because they have defiled1352 the priesthood3550, and the covenant1285 of the priesthood3550, and of the Levites3881.
30Thus cleansed2891 I them from all strangers5236, and appointed5975 the wards4931 of the priests3548 and the Levites3881, every one376 in his business4399;
31And for the wood6086 offering7133, at times6256 appointed2163, and for the firstfruits1061. Remember2142 me, O my God430, for good2896.