1 O n that day they read in the Book of Moses in the audience of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God,

On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God,

2 F or they met not the Israelites with food and drink but hired Balaam to curse them; yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 W hen heard the law, they separated from Israel all who were of foreign descent.

So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. The Reforms of Nehemiah

4 N ow before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah,

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah.

5 P repared for Tobiah a large chamber where previously they had put the cereal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil which were given by commandment to the Levites, the singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests.

6 B ut in all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. Then later I asked leave of him

But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king,

7 A nd came to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God!

and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

8 A nd it grieved me exceedingly, and I threw all the house furnishings of Tobiah out of the chamber.

And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room.

9 T hen I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offerings and the frankincense.

Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

10 A nd I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work had each fled to his field.

I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.

11 T hen I contended with the officials and said, Why is the house of God neglected and forsaken? I gathered the Levites and singers and set them in their stations.

So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

12 T hen all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storerooms.

Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse.

13 I set treasurers over the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; assisting them was Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were counted faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

14 O my God, remember me concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds and kindnesses done for the house of my God and for His service.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!

15 I n those days I saw in Judah men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves or heaps of grain with which they loaded donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I protested and warned them on the day they sold the produce.

In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.

16 T here dwelt men of Tyre there also who brought fish and all kinds of wares and sold on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem.

Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 T hen I reproved the nobles of Judah and said, What evil thing is this that you do—profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?

18 D id not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.

Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

19 A nd when it began to get dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut and not be opened till after the Sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates to prevent any burden being brought in on the Sabbath day.

So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.

20 S o the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21 B ut I reproved and warned them, saying, Why do you lodge by the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you. Then they stopped coming on the Sabbath.

Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath.

22 A nd I commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. O my God, remember me concerning this also and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy and loving-kindness.

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!

23 I n those days also I saw Jews who had married wives from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

24 A nd their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak the Hebrew, but in the language of each people.

And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.

25 A nd I contended with them and reviled them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.

26 D id not Solomon king of Israel act treacherously against God and miss the mark on account of such women? Among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet strange women even caused him to sin.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.

27 S hall we then listen to you to do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying strange (heathen) women?

Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”

28 O ne of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me.

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.

29 O my God, remember them, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priests and Levites.

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 T hus I cleansed them from everything foreign (heathen), and I defined the duties of the priests and Levites, everyone in his work;

Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service,

31 A nd I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. O my God, remember me for good and imprint me!

and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good!