1 O n that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and there was found written in it that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever gather together to worship with the people of God.

2 b ecause they had not met the children of Israel with bread and with water, and had hired Balaam against them, to curse them; but our God turned the curse into blessing.

It was because they did not meet the sons of Israel with food and water, but paid Balaam to curse them. Yet our God turned the curse into good.

3 A nd it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

When the people heard the Law, they kept out all those of other nations from Israel.

4 A nd before this, Eliashib the priest, who had the oversight of the chambers of the house of our God, a kinsman of Tobijah,

Before this, Eliashib the religious leader, who watched over the store-rooms of the house of our God, being close to Tobiah,

5 h ad prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the oblations, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which was commanded for the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers, and the heave-offerings of the priests.

made a room for him. They had before used the room to store the grain gifts, special perfume, dishes, and the tenth part of grain, wine and oil to be given to the Levites, the singers and the gate-keepers, and the gifts for the religious leaders.

6 A nd during all that I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king; and after some time I obtained leave of the king.

But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem. For in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I had gone to the king. Then after some time, I asked the king to let me go,

7 A nd I came to Jerusalem, and observed the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobijah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

and came to Jerusalem. I learned about the sinful thing Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by giving a room for him in the house of God.

8 A nd it grieved me much, and I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobijah out of the chamber.

I was very angry, and threw all the things of Tobiah’s house out of the room.

9 A nd I commanded, and they purified the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the oblation and the frankincense.

Then I said that the rooms must be made clean, and put back the things of the house of God with the grain gifts and the special perfume.

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

I also learned that what was to be given to the Levites had not been given. So the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to their own fields.

11 T hen 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.

So I spoke sharp words to the leaders and said, “Why is the house of God no longer cared for?” Then I gathered them together and returned them to their duties.

12 A nd all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil into the storehouses.

All the people of Judah then brought the tenth part of the grain, wine and oil into the store-houses.

13 A nd I made storekeepers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and subordinate to them, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were esteemed faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.

I had Shelemiah the religious leader, Zadok the writer, and Pedaiah of the Levites, watch over the store-houses. With them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were trusted, and it was their duty to give the needed things to their brothers.

14 R emember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God, and for the charges thereof!

Remember me for this, O my God. Do not forget my good works which I have done for the house of my God and His worship.

15 I n those days I saw in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading them on asses; as also wine, grapes and figs, and all manner of burdens; and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I protested in the day on which they sold the victuals.

In those days I saw in Judah some who were crushing grapes to make wine on the Day of Rest. I saw them bringing in bags of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads. And they brought them into Jerusalem on the Day of Rest. So I spoke sharp words to them on the day they sold food.

16 M en of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold it on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

Men of Tyre were living there who brought in fish and all kinds of things to sell. They sold them to the people of Judah on the Day of Rest, even in Jerusalem.

17 A nd I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this which ye do, profaning the sabbath day?

Then I spoke sharp words to the leaders of Judah, saying, “What is this sinful thing you are doing by not keeping the Day of Rest holy?

18 D id not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? And ye will bring more wrath against Israel by profaning the sabbath.

Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought all this trouble to us and to this city? Yet you are bringing more anger to Israel by not keeping the Day of Rest holy.”

19 A nd it came to pass, that when it began to be dark in the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And I set of my servants at the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day.

Just as it became dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Day of Rest, I had them shut the doors. And I would not let them be opened until after the Day of Rest. Then I had some of my servants watch the gates, that no load should come in on the Day of Rest.

20 A nd the dealers and sellers of all kind of ware passed the night without Jerusalem once or twice.

Once or twice the traders and sellers stayed the night outside Jerusalem.

21 A nd I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye pass the night before the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came not on the sabbath.

Then I spoke sharp words to them, saying, “Why do you stay the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will send men out to make you leave.” From that time on they did not come on the Day of Rest.

22 A nd I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to hallow the sabbath day. Remember this also for me, my God, and spare me according to thy great loving-kindness!

Then I told the Levites to make themselves free from sin and come and watch the gates to keep the Day of Rest holy. Remember me for this also, O my God. Be good to me because of Your great loving-kindness.

23 I n those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab.

In those days I saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

24 A nd their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. They could not speak the language of Judah, but the language of their own people.

25 A nd I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair, and adjured them by God, Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

So I fought with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them promise in the name of God, saying, “You must not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

26 D id not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among the many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; but even him did foreign wives cause to sin.

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin because of these women? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But the women from other nations caused even him to sin.

27 A nd should we hearken to you to do all this great evil, to act unfaithfully to our God by marrying foreign wives?

Should we hear now that you also are sinning in the same way by not being faithful to our God, by marrying women from other nations?”

28 A nd of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; and I chased him from me.

Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the religious leader, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me.

29 R emember them, my God, for they are polluters of the priesthood, and of the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites!

Remember them, O my God, because they have brought sin to the religious leaders and to the agreement of the religious leaders and the Levites.

30 A nd I purified them from all foreigners, and appointed the charges of the priests and the Levites, every one in his service;

So I made them free from the sin of other nations. I gave the religious leaders and the Levites their duties, each in his work.

31 a nd for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good!

And I saw to it that wood would be brought at the right times, and also the first-fruits. O my God, remember me for good.