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 there was read in the book of Moses, in the ears of the people, and it hath been found written in it that an Ammonite and Moabite doth not come into the assembly of God -- unto the age,

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.

because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hire against them Balaam to revile them, and our God turneth the reviling into a blessing.

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

And it cometh to pass, at their hearing the law, that they separate all the mixed people 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,

And before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, a relation of 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.

and he maketh for him a great chamber, and there they were formerly putting the present, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the corn, the new wine, and the oil -- the commanded thing of the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers -- and the heave-offering of the priests.

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.

And during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon did I come unto the king, and at the end of days I have asked of the king,

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 I come in to Jerusalem, and understand concerning the evil that Eliashib hath done for Tobiah, to make to him a chamber in the courts of 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.

and it is very displeasing to me, and I cast all the vessels of the house of Tobiah without, out of the chamber,

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.

and I speak, and they cleanse the chambers, and I bring back thither the vessels of the house of God with the present and the frankincense.

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.

And I know that the portions of the Levites have not been given, and they flee each to his field -- the Levites and the singers, doing the work.

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.

And I strive with the prefects, and say, `Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them, and set them on their station;

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

and all Judah have brought in the tithe of the corn, and of the new wine, and of the oil, to the treasuries.

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.

And I appoint treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and by their hand Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for stedfast they have been reckoned, and on them to give a portion to their brethren.

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!

Be mindful of me, O my God, for this, and do not blot out my kind acts that I have done, for the house of my God, and for its charges.

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 have seen in Judah those treading wine-vats on sabbath, and bringing in the sheaves, and lading on the asses, and also, wine, grapes, and figs, and every burden, yea, they are bringing in to Jerusalem on the sabbath-day, and I testify in the day of their selling provision.

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.

And the Tyrians have dwelt in it, bringing in fish, and every ware, and selling on sabbath to the sons of Judah and 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?

And I strive with the freemen of Judah, and say to them, `What this evil thing that ye are doing, and polluting the sabbath-day?

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.

Thus did not your fathers do? and our God bringeth in on us all this evil, and on this city, and ye are adding fierceness on Israel, to pollute the sabbath.'

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.

And it cometh to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem have been dark before the sabbath, that I speak, and the doors are shut, and I say, that they do not open them till after the sabbath; and of my servants I have stationed at the gates; there doth not come in a burden on the sabbath-day.

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

And they lodge -- the merchants and sellers of all ware -- at the outside of Jerusalem, once or twice,

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.

and I testify against them, and say unto them, `Wherefore are ye lodging over-against the wall? if ye repeat, a hand I put forth upon you;' from that time they have not come in on the sabbath.

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!

And I say to the Levites, that they be cleansed, and, coming in, keeping the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day. Also, this, remember for me, O my God, and have pity on me, according to the abundance of Thy kindness.

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

Also, in those days, I have seen the Jews have settled women of Ashdod, of Ammon, of 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.

And of their sons, half are speaking Ashdoditish -- and are not knowing to speak Jewish -- and according to the language of people and 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.

And I strive with them, and declare them vile, and smite certain of them, and pluck off their hair, and cause them to swear by God, `Ye do not give your daughters to their sons, nor do ye take of their daughters to your sons, and to 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.

`By these did not Solomon king of Israel sin? and among the many nations there was no king like him, and beloved by his God he was, and God maketh him king over all Israel -- even him did the strange women cause 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?

And to you do we hearken to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God, to settle strange women?'

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.

And of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest, son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, and I cause him to flee from off 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!

Be mindful of them, O my God, for the redeemed of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of 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;

And I have cleansed them from every stranger, and appoint charges to priests and to Levites, 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 for the wood-offering at appointed times, and for first-fruits. Be mindful of me, O my God, for good.