1 O n 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.

¶ 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

2 I t 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.

because 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.

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

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

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

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

5 m ade 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.

and 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.

6 B ut 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,

But 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.

7 a nd 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.

And 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.

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

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

9 T hen 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.

Then 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.

10 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.

¶ 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.

11 S o 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.

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

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

13 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.

And 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.

14 R emember 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.

Remember 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.

15 I n 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.

¶ 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.

16 M en 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.

There 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.

17 T hen 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?

Then 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?

18 D id 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.”

Did 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.

19 J ust 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.

And 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.

20 O nce or twice the traders and sellers stayed the night outside Jerusalem.

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

21 T hen 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.

Then 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.

22 T hen 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.

And 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.

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

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

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

and 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.

25 S o 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.

And 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.

26 D id 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.

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, strange women caused even him to offend.

27 S hould 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?”

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

28 E ven 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.

And 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.

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

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

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

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

31 A nd 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.

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