1 On that day|strong="H3117" they read|strong="H7121" in the book|strong="H5612" of Moses|strong="H4872" in the audience|strong="H0241" of the people|strong="H5971"; and therein was found|strong="H4672" written|strong="H3789", that the Ammonite|strong="H5984" and the Moabite|strong="H4125" should not come|strong="H0935" into the congregation|strong="H6951" of God|strong="H0430" for|strong="H5704" ever|strong="H5769";
2 Because they met|strong="H6923" not the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478" with bread|strong="H3899" and with water|strong="H4325", but hired|strong="H7936" Balaam|strong="H1109" against them, that he should curse|strong="H7043" them: howbeit our God|strong="H0430" turned|strong="H2015" the curse|strong="H7045" into a blessing|strong="H1293".
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard|strong="H8085" the law|strong="H8451", that they separated|strong="H0914" from Israel|strong="H3478" all the mixed multitude|strong="H6154".
4 And before|strong="H6440" this, Eliashib|strong="H0475" the priest|strong="H3548", having the oversight|strong="H5414" of the chamber|strong="H3957" of the house|strong="H1004" of our God|strong="H0430", was allied|strong="H7138" unto Tobiah|strong="H2900":
5 And he had prepared|strong="H6213" for him a great|strong="H1419" chamber|strong="H3957", where aforetime|strong="H6440" they laid|strong="H5414" the meat offerings|strong="H4503", the frankincense|strong="H3828", and the vessels|strong="H3627", and the tithes|strong="H4643" of the corn|strong="H1715", the new wine|strong="H8492", and the oil|strong="H3323", which was commanded|strong="H4687" to be given to the Levites|strong="H3881", and the singers|strong="H7891", and the porters|strong="H7778"; and the offerings|strong="H8641" of the priests|strong="H3548".
6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem|strong="H3389": for in the two|strong="H8147" and thirtieth|strong="H7970" year|strong="H8141" of Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" king|strong="H4428" of Babylon|strong="H0894" came|strong="H0935" I unto the king|strong="H4428", and after|strong="H7093" certain days|strong="H3117" obtained I leave|strong="H7592" of the king|strong="H4428":
7 And I came|strong="H0935" to Jerusalem|strong="H3389", and understood|strong="H0995" of the evil|strong="H7451" that Eliashib|strong="H0475" did|strong="H6213" for Tobiah|strong="H2900", in preparing|strong="H6213" him a chamber|strong="H5393" in the courts|strong="H2691" of the house|strong="H1004" of God|strong="H0430".
8 And it grieved|strong="H3415" me sore|strong="H3966": therefore I cast forth|strong="H7993" all the household|strong="H1004" stuff|strong="H3627" of Tobiah|strong="H2900" out of|strong="H2351" the chamber|strong="H3957".
9 Then I commanded|strong="H0559", and they cleansed|strong="H2891" the chambers|strong="H3957": and thither brought I again|strong="H7725" the vessels|strong="H3627" of the house|strong="H1004" of God|strong="H0430", with the meat offering|strong="H4503" and the frankincense|strong="H3828".
10 And I perceived|strong="H3045" that the portions|strong="H4521" of the Levites|strong="H3881" had not been given|strong="H5414" them: for the Levites|strong="H3881" and the singers|strong="H7891", that did|strong="H6213" the work|strong="H4399", were fled|strong="H1272" every one|strong="H0376" to his field|strong="H7704".
11 Then contended|strong="H7378" I with the rulers|strong="H5461", and said|strong="H0559", Why is the house|strong="H1004" of God|strong="H0430" forsaken|strong="H5800"? And I gathered them together|strong="H6908", and set|strong="H5975" them in their place|strong="H5977".
12 Then brought|strong="H0935" all Judah|strong="H3063" the tithe|strong="H4643" of the corn|strong="H1715" and the new wine|strong="H8492" and the oil|strong="H3323" unto the treasuries|strong="H0214".
13 And I made treasurers|strong="H0686" over the treasuries|strong="H0214", Shelemiah|strong="H8018" the priest|strong="H3548", and Zadok|strong="H6659" the scribe|strong="H5608", and of the Levites|strong="H3881", Pedaiah|strong="H6305": and next to them|strong="H3027" was Hanan|strong="H2605" the son|strong="H1121" of Zaccur|strong="H2139", the son|strong="H1121" of Mattaniah|strong="H4983": for they were counted|strong="H2803" faithful|strong="H0539", and their office was to distribute|strong="H2505" unto their brethren|strong="H0251".
14 Remember|strong="H2142" me, O my God|strong="H0430", concerning this, and wipe not out|strong="H4229" my good|strong="H2617" deeds that I have done|strong="H6213" for the house|strong="H1004" of my God|strong="H0430", and for the offices|strong="H4929" thereof.
15 In those days|strong="H3117" saw|strong="H7200" I in Judah|strong="H3063" some treading|strong="H1869" wine presses|strong="H1660" on the sabbath|strong="H7676", and bringing in|strong="H0935" sheaves|strong="H6194", and lading|strong="H6006" asses|strong="H2543"; as also wine|strong="H3196", grapes|strong="H6025", and figs|strong="H8384", and all manner of burdens|strong="H4853", which they brought|strong="H0935" into Jerusalem|strong="H3389" on the sabbath|strong="H7676" day|strong="H3117": and I testified|strong="H5749" against them in the day|strong="H3117" wherein they sold|strong="H4376" victuals|strong="H6718".
16 There dwelt|strong="H3427" men of Tyre|strong="H6876" also therein, which brought|strong="H0935" fish|strong="H1709", and all manner of ware|strong="H4377", and sold|strong="H4376" on the sabbath|strong="H7676" unto the children|strong="H1121" of Judah|strong="H3063", and in Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
17 Then I contended|strong="H7378" with the nobles|strong="H2715" of Judah|strong="H3063", and said|strong="H0559" unto them, What evil|strong="H7451" thing|strong="H1697" is this that ye do|strong="H6213", and profane|strong="H2490" the sabbath|strong="H7676" day|strong="H3117"?
18 Did|strong="H6213" not your fathers|strong="H0001" thus, and did|strong="H0935" not our God|strong="H0430" bring|strong="H0935" all this evil|strong="H7451" upon us, and upon this city|strong="H5892"? yet ye bring|strong="H0935" more|strong="H3254" wrath|strong="H2740" upon Israel|strong="H3478" by profaning|strong="H2490" the sabbath|strong="H7676".
19 And it came to pass, that when the gates|strong="H8179" of Jerusalem|strong="H3389" began to be dark|strong="H6751" before|strong="H6440" the sabbath|strong="H7676", I commanded|strong="H0559" that the gates|strong="H1817" should be shut|strong="H5462", and charged|strong="H0559" that they should not be opened|strong="H6605" till after|strong="H0310" the sabbath|strong="H7676": and some of my servants|strong="H5288" set|strong="H5975" I at the gates|strong="H8179", that there should no burden|strong="H4853" be brought in|strong="H0935" on the sabbath|strong="H7676" day|strong="H3117".
20 So the merchants|strong="H7402" and sellers|strong="H4376" of all kind of ware|strong="H4465" lodged|strong="H3885" without|strong="H2351" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" once|strong="H6471" or twice|strong="H8147".
21 Then I testified|strong="H5749" against them, and said|strong="H0559" unto them, Why lodge|strong="H3885" ye about|strong="H5048" the wall|strong="H2346"? if ye do so again|strong="H8138", I will lay|strong="H7971" hands|strong="H3027" on you. From that time|strong="H6256" forth came|strong="H0935" they no more on the sabbath|strong="H7676".
22 And I commanded|strong="H0559" the Levites|strong="H3881" that they should cleanse|strong="H2891" themselves, and that they should come|strong="H0935" and keep|strong="H8104" the gates|strong="H8179", to sanctify|strong="H6942" the sabbath|strong="H7676" day|strong="H3117". Remember|strong="H2142" me, O my God|strong="H0430", concerning this also, and spare|strong="H2347" me according to the greatness|strong="H7230" of thy mercy|strong="H2617".
23 In those days|strong="H3117" also saw|strong="H7200" I Jews|strong="H3064" that had married|strong="H3427" wives|strong="H0802" of Ashdod|strong="H0796", of Ammon|strong="H5984", and of Moab|strong="H4125":
24 And their children|strong="H1121" spake|strong="H1696" half|strong="H2677" in the speech of Ashdod|strong="H0797", and could|strong="H5234" not speak|strong="H1696" in the Jews’ language|strong="H3066", but according to the language|strong="H3956" of each|strong="H5971" people|strong="H5971".
25 And I contended|strong="H7378" with them, and cursed|strong="H7043" them, and smote|strong="H5221" certain|strong="H0582" of them, and plucked off their hair|strong="H4803", and made them swear|strong="H7650" by God|strong="H0430", saying, Ye shall not give|strong="H5414" your daughters|strong="H1323" unto their sons|strong="H1121", nor take|strong="H5375" their daughters|strong="H1323" unto your sons|strong="H1121", or for yourselves.
26 Did not Solomon|strong="H8010" king|strong="H4428" of Israel|strong="H3478" sin|strong="H2398" by these things? yet among many|strong="H7227" nations|strong="H1471" was there no king|strong="H4428" like him, who was beloved|strong="H0157" of his God|strong="H0430", and God|strong="H0430" made|strong="H5414" him king|strong="H4428" over all Israel|strong="H3478": nevertheless even him|strong="H1571" did outlandish|strong="H5237" women|strong="H0802" cause to sin|strong="H2398".
27 Shall we then hearken|strong="H8085" unto you to do|strong="H6213" all this great|strong="H1419" evil|strong="H7451", to transgress|strong="H4603" against our God|strong="H0430" in marrying|strong="H3427" strange|strong="H5237" wives|strong="H0802"?
28 And one of the sons|strong="H1121" of Joiada|strong="H3111", the son|strong="H1121" of Eliashib|strong="H0475" the high|strong="H1419" priest|strong="H3548", was son in law|strong="H2860" to Sanballat|strong="H5571" the Horonite|strong="H2772": therefore I chased|strong="H1272" him from me.
29 Remember|strong="H2142" them, O my God|strong="H0430", because they have defiled|strong="H1352" the priesthood|strong="H3550", and the covenant|strong="H1285" of the priesthood|strong="H3550", and of the Levites|strong="H3881".
30 Thus cleansed|strong="H2891" I them from all strangers|strong="H5236", and appointed|strong="H5975" the wards|strong="H4931" of the priests|strong="H3548" and the Levites|strong="H3881", every one|strong="H0376" in his business|strong="H4399";
31 And for the wood|strong="H6086" offering|strong="H7133", at times|strong="H6256" appointed|strong="H2163", and for the firstfruits|strong="H1061". Remember|strong="H2142" me, O my God|strong="H0430", for good|strong="H2896".