1 On that day3117 they read7121 in the book5612 of Moses4872 in the audience241 of the people;5971 and therein was found4672 written,3789 that the Ammonite5984 and the Moabite4125 should not come935 into the congregation6951 of God430 for ever;5769

2 Because3588 they met6923 not the children1121 of Israel3478 with bread3899 and with water,4325 but hired7936 Balaam1109 against5921 them, that he should curse7043 them: however, our God430 turned2015 the curse7045 into a blessing.1293

3 Now it came1961 to pass, when they had heard8085 the law,8451 that they separated914 from Israel3478 all3605 the mixed6154 multitude.6154

4 And before6440 this,2088 Eliashib475 the priest,3548 having5414 the oversight5414 of the chamber3957 of the house1004 of our God,430 was allied7138 to Tobiah:2900

5 And he had prepared6213 for him a great1419 chamber,3957 where8033 aforetime6440 they laid5414 the meat offerings,4503 the frankincense,3828 and the vessels,3627 and the tithes4643 of the corn,1715 the new8492 wine,8492 and the oil,3323 which was commanded4687 to be given to the Levites,3881 and the singers,7891 and the porters;7778 and the offerings4503 of the priests.3548

6 But in all3605 this2088 time was not I at Jerusalem:3389 for in the two8147 and thirtieth7970 year8141 of Artaxerxes783 king4428 of Babylon894 came935 I to the king,4428 and after7093 certain days3117 obtained7592 I leave7592 of the king:4428

7 And I came935 to Jerusalem,3389 and understood995 of the evil7451 that Eliashib475 did6213 for Tobiah,2900 in preparing6213 him a chamber5393 in the courts2691 of the house1004 of God.430

8 And it grieved7489 me sore:3966 therefore I cast7993 forth all3605 the household1004 stuff3627 to Tobiah2900 out of the chamber.3957

9 Then I commanded,559 and they cleansed2891 the chambers:3957 and thither8033 brought7725 I again7725 the vessels3627 of the house1004 of God,430 with the meat offering4503 and the frankincense.3828

10 And I perceived3045 that the portions4521 of the Levites3881 had not been given5414 them: for the Levites3881 and the singers,7891 that did6213 the work,4399 were fled1272 every376 one376 to his field.7704

11 Then contended7378 I with the rulers,5461 and said,559 Why4069 is the house1004 of God430 forsaken?5800 And I gathered6908 them together, and set5975 them in their place.5977

12 Then brought935 all3605 Judah3063 the tithe4643 of the corn1715 and the new8492 wine8492 and the oil3323 to the treasuries.214

13 And I made treasurers686 over5921 the treasuries,214 Shelemiah8018 the priest,3548 and Zadok6659 the scribe,5608 and of the Levites,3881 Pedaiah:6305 and next5921 3027 to them was Hanan2605 the son1121 of Zaccur,2139 the son1121 of Mattaniah:4983 for they were counted2803 faithful,539 and their office was to distribute2505 to their brothers.251

14 Remember2142 me, O my God,430 concerning5921 this,2088 and wipe4229 not out my good2617 deeds that I have done6213 for the house1004 of my God,430 and for the offices4929 thereof.

15 In those1992 days3117 saw7200 I in Judah3063 some treading1869 wine1660 presses1660 on the sabbath,7676 and bringing935 in sheaves,6194 and lading6006 asses;2543 as also637 wine,3196 grapes,6025 and figs,8384 and all3605 manner of burdens,4853 which they brought935 into Jerusalem3389 on the sabbath7676 day:3117 and I testified5749 against them in the day3117 wherein they sold4376 victuals.6718

16 There dwelled3427 men of Tyre6876 also therein, which brought935 fish,1709 and all3605 manner of ware,4377 and sold4376 on the sabbath7676 to the children1121 of Judah,3063 and in Jerusalem.3389

17 Then I contended7378 with the nobles2715 of Judah,3063 and said559 to them, What4100 evil7451 thing1697 is this2088 that you do,6213 and profane2490 the sabbath7676 day?3117

18 Did not your fathers1 thus,3541 and did not our God430 bring935 all3605 this2088 evil7451 on us, and on this2063 city?5892 yet you bring935 more3254 wrath2740 on Israel3478 by profaning2490 the sabbath.7676

19 And it came1961 to pass, that when834 the gates8179 of Jerusalem3389 began6751 to be dark6751 before6440 the sabbath,7676 I commanded559 that the gates1817 should be shut,5462 and charged559 that they should not be opened6605 till5704 after310 the sabbath:7676 and some of my servants5288 set5975 I at5921 the gates,8179 that there should no3808 burden4853 be brought935 in on the sabbath7676 day.3117

20 So the merchants7402 and sellers4376 of all3605 kind of ware4465 lodged3885 without2351 Jerusalem3389 once6471 or twice.8147

21 Then I testified5749 against them, and said559 to them, Why4069 lodge3885 you about5048 the wall?2346 if518 you do so again,8138 I will lay7971 hands3027 on you. From that time6256 forth came935 they no3808 more on the sabbath.7676

22 And I commanded559 the Levites3881 that they should cleanse2891 themselves, and that they should come935 and keep8104 the gates,8179 to sanctify6942 the sabbath7676 day.3117 Remember2142 me, O my God,430 concerning this2063 also,1571 and spare2347 me according to the greatness7230 of your mercy.2617

23 In those1992 days3117 also1571 saw7200 I Jews3064 that had married3427 wives802 of Ashdod,795 of Ammon,5983 and of Moab:4125

24 And their children1121 spoke1696 half2677 in the speech3066 of Ashdod,795 and could5234 not speak1696 in the Jews'3066 language,3956 but according to the language of each people.5971

25 And I contended7378 with them, and cursed7043 them, and smote5221 certain582 of them, and plucked4803 off their hair, and made them swear7650 by God,430 saying, You shall not give5414 your daughters1323 to their sons,1121 nor518 take5375 their daughters1323 to your sons,1121 or for yourselves.

26 Did not Solomon8010 king4428 of Israel3478 sin2398 by these428 things? yet among many7227 nations1471 was there no3808 king4428 like3644 him, who was beloved157 of his God,430 and God430 made5414 him king4428 over5921 all3605 Israel:3478 nevertheless1571 even him did outlandish5237 women802 cause to sin.2398

27 Shall we then listen8085 to you to do6213 all3605 this2063 great1419 evil,7451 to transgress4603 against our God430 in marrying3427 strange5237 wives?802

28 And one of the sons1121 of Joiada,3111 the son1121 of Eliashib475 the high1419 priest,3548 was son2860 in law2859 to Sanballat5571 the Horonite:2772 therefore I chased1272 him from me.

29 Remember2142 them, O my God,430 because5921 they have defiled1351 the priesthood,3550 and the covenant1285 of the priesthood,3550 and of the Levites.3881

30 Thus cleansed2891 I them from all3605 strangers,1121 5236 and appointed5975 the wards4931 of the priests3548 and the Levites,3881 every376 one376 in his business;4399

31 And for the wood6086 offering,7133 at times6256 appointed,2163 and for the first fruits.1061 Remember2142 me, O my God,430 for good.2896