On that day{H3117} they read{H7121} in the book{H5612} of Moses{H4872} in the audience{H241} of the people;{H5971} and therein was found{H4672} written,{H3789} that an Ammonite{H5984} and a Moabite{H4125} should not enter{H935} into the assembly{H6951} of God{H430} for{H5704} ever,{H5769}

because they met{H6923} not the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} with bread{H3899} and with water,{H4325} but hired{H7936} Balaam{H1109} against them, to curse{H7043} them: howbeit our God{H430} turned{H2015} the curse{H7043} into a blessing.{H1293}

And it came to pass, when they had heard{H8085} the law,{H8451} that they separated{H914} from Israel{H3478} all the mixed multitude.{H6154}

Now before{H6440} this, Eliashib{H475} the priest,{H3548} who was appointed{H5414} over the chambers{H3957} of the house{H1004} of our God,{H430} being allied{H7138} unto Tobiah,{H2900}

had prepared{H6213} for him a great{H1419} chamber,{H3957} where aforetime{H6440} they laid{H5414} the meal-offerings,{H4503} the frankincense,{H3828} and the vessels,{H3627} and the tithes{H4643} of the grain,{H1715} the new wine,{H8492} and the oil,{H3323} which were given by commandment{H4687} to the Levites,{H3881} and the singers,{H7891} and the porters;{H7778} and the heave-offerings{H8641} for the priests.{H3548}

But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem;{H3389} for in the two{H8147} and thirtieth{H7970} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} I went{H935} unto the king:{H4428} and after{H7093} certain days{H3117} asked I leave{H7592} of the king,{H4428}

and I came{H935} to Jerusalem,{H3389} and understood{H995} the evil{H7451} that Eliashib{H475} had done{H6213} for Tobiah,{H2900} in preparing{H6213} him a chamber{H5393} in the courts{H2691} of the house{H1004} of God.{H430}

And it grieved{H3415} me sore:{H3966} therefore I cast forth{H7993} all the household{H1004} stuff{H3627} of Tobiah{H2900} out of{H2351} the chamber.{H3957}

Then I commanded,{H559} and they cleansed{H2891} the chambers:{H3957} and thither brought I again{H7725} the vessels{H3627} of the house{H1004} of God,{H430} with the meal-offerings{H4503} and the frankincense.{H3828}

And I perceived{H3045} that the portions{H4521} of the Levites{H3881} had not been given{H5414} them; so that the Levites{H3881} and the singers,{H7891} that did{H6213} the work,{H4399} were fled{H1272} every one{H376} to his field.{H7704}

Then contended{H7378} I with the rulers,{H5461} and said,{H559} Why is the house{H1004} of God{H430} forsaken?{H5800} And I gathered them together,{H6908} and set{H5975} them in their place.{H5977}

Then brought{H935} all Judah{H3063} the tithe{H4643} of the grain{H1715} and the new wine{H8492} and the oil{H3323} unto the treasuries.{H214}

And I made treasurers{H686} over the treasuries,{H214} Shelemiah{H8018} the priest,{H3548} and Zadok{H6659} the scribe,{H5608} and of the Levites,{H3881} Pedaiah:{H6305} and next to them{H3027} was Hanan{H2605} the son{H1121} of Zaccur,{H2139} the son{H1121} of Mattaniah;{H4983} for they were counted{H2803} faithful,{H539} and their business was to distribute{H2505} unto their brethren.{H251}

Remember{H2142} me, O my God,{H430} concerning this, and wipe not out{H4229} my good{H2617} deeds that I have done{H6213} for the house{H1004} of my God,{H430} and for the observances{H4929} thereof.

In those days{H3117} saw{H7200} I in Judah{H3063} some men treading{H1869} wine-presses{H1660} on the sabbath,{H7676} and bringing in{H935} sheaves,{H6194} and lading{H6006} asses{H2543} [therewith]; as also wine,{H3196} grapes,{H6025} and figs,{H8384} and all manner of burdens,{H4853} which they brought{H935} into Jerusalem{H3389} on the sabbath{H7676} day:{H3117} and I testified{H5749} [against them] in the day{H3117} wherein they sold{H4376} victuals.{H6718}

There dwelt{H3427} men of Tyre{H6876} also therein, who brought{H935} in fish,{H1709} and all manner of wares,{H4377} and sold{H4376} on the sabbath{H7676} unto the children{H1121} of Judah,{H3063} and in Jerusalem.{H3389}

Then I contended{H7378} with the nobles{H2715} of Judah,{H3063} and said{H559} unto them, What evil{H7451} thing{H1697} is this that ye do,{H6213} and profane{H2490} the sabbath{H7676} day?{H3117}

Did{H6213} not your fathers{H1} thus, and did{H935} not our God{H430} bring{H935} all this evil{H7451} upon us, and upon this city?{H5892} yet ye bring{H935} more{H3254} wrath{H2740} upon Israel{H3478} by profaning{H2490} the sabbath.{H7676}

And it came to pass that, when the gates{H8179} of Jerusalem{H3389} began to be dark{H6751} before{H6440} the sabbath,{H7676} I commanded{H559} that the doors{H1817} should be shut,{H5462} and commanded{H559} that they should not be opened{H6605} till after{H310} the sabbath:{H7676} and some of my servants{H5288} set{H5975} I over the gates,{H8179} that there should no burden{H4853} be brought in{H935} on the sabbath{H7676} day.{H3117}

So the merchants{H7402} and sellers{H4376} of all kind of wares{H4465} lodged{H3885} without{H2351} Jerusalem{H3389} once{H6471} or twice.{H8147}

Then I testified{H5749} against them, and said{H559} unto them, Why lodge{H3885} ye about{H5048} the wall?{H2346} if ye do so again,{H8138} I will lay{H7971} hands{H3027} on you. From that time{H6256} forth came{H935} they no more on the sabbath.{H7676}

And I commanded{H559} the Levites{H3881} that they should purify{H2891} themselves, and that they should come{H935} and keep{H8104} the gates,{H8179} to sanctify{H6942} the sabbath{H7676} day.{H3117} Remember{H2142} unto me, O my God,{H430} this also, and spare{H2347} me according to the greatness{H7230} of thy lovingkindness.{H2617}

In those days{H3117} also saw{H7200} I the Jews{H3064} that had married{H3427} women{H802} of Ashdod,{H796} of Ammon,{H5984} [and] of Moab:{H4125}

and their children{H1121} spake{H1696} half{H2677} in the speech of Ashdod,{H797} and could{H5234} not speak{H1696} in the Jews' language,{H3066} but according to the language{H3956} of each{H5971} people.{H5971}

And I contended{H7378} with them, and cursed{H7043} them, and smote{H5221} certain{H582} of them, and plucked off their hair,{H4803} and made them swear{H7650} by God,{H430} [saying], Ye shall not give{H5414} your daughters{H1323} unto their sons,{H1121} nor take{H5375} their daughters{H1323} for your sons,{H1121} or for yourselves.

Did not Solomon{H8010} king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} sin{H2398} by these things? yet among many{H7227} nations{H1471} was there no king{H4428} like him, and he was beloved{H157} of his God,{H430} and God{H430} made{H5414} him king{H4428} over all Israel:{H3478} nevertheless even him{H1571} did foreign{H5237} women{H802} cause to sin.{H2398}

Shall we then hearken{H8085} unto you to do{H6213} all this great{H1419} evil,{H7451} to trespass{H4603} against our God{H430} in marrying{H3427} foreign{H5237} women?{H802}

And one of the sons{H1121} of Joiada,{H3111} the son{H1121} of Eliashib{H475} the high{H1419} priest,{H3548} was son-in-law{H2860} to Sanballat{H5571} the Horonite:{H2772} therefore I chased{H1272} him from me.

Remember{H2142} them, O my God,{H430} because they have defiled{H1352} the priesthood,{H3550} and the covenant{H1285} of the priesthood,{H3550} and of the Levites.{H3881}

Thus cleansed{H2891} I them from all foreigners,{H5236} and appointed{H5975} charges{H4931} for the priests{H3548} and for the Levites,{H3881} every one{H376} in his work;{H4399}

and for the wood -{H6086} offering,{H7133} at times{H6256} appointed,{H2163} and for the first-fruits.{H1061} Remember{H2142} me, O my God,{H430} for good.{H2896}