1 ¶ On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and it was found written therein that the Ammonites and the Moabites should not come into the congregation of God forever

On 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,

2 b ecause they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

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

3 N ow it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

When heard the law, they separated from Israel all who were of foreign descent.

4 A nd before this, Eliashib, the priest, had been the overseer of the chamber of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah,

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

5 a nd he had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they had kept the present, the frankincense, the vessels, the tithe of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, to the singers and the porters and the offerings of the priests.

Prepared 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.

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 unto the king, and after certain days I was sent by the king.

But 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

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

And 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!

8 A nd it grieved me sore; therefore, I cast forth all the household vessels of Tobiah out of the chamber.

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

9 T hen I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I caused the vessels of the house of God to be brought there again, with the present and the frankincense.

Then 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.

10 ¶ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them and that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled each one to his inheritance.

And 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.

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.

Then 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.

12 T hen all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil unto the store houses.

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

13 A nd I made treasurers over the store houses, 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 counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

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.

14 R emember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my mercies that I have done for the house of my God and for its wards.

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.

15 ¶ In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses with wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I protested unto them the day in which they sold the food.

In 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.

16 T here dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish and all manner of merchandise, and sold on the sabbath to the sons of Judah in Jerusalem.

There 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.

17 T hen I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do and profane thus the sabbath day?

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

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

Did 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.

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

And 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.

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

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

21 T hen I testified and protested against them and said unto them, Why do ye lodge about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more on the sabbath.

But 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.

22 A nd I told the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come 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 thy mercy.

And 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.

23 ¶ In those days I also saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;

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

24 a nd their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and according to the language of each people; for they could not speak in the Jews’ language.

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

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

And 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.

26 D id 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, strange women caused even him to offend.

Did 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.

27 S hall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange women?

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

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

One 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.

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

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

30 T hus I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, each one in his work,

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

31 a nd for the wood offering, at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

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