1 On that day, the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and it was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God.

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

2 This was because they had not met the Israelites with bread and water but had hired Balaam to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Because they met not the children 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 When they heard the Law, they separated all those of foreign descent from Israel.

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

4 Before this occurred, Eliashib the priest, who had been assigned to the chambers of the house of our God, was closely associated with Tobiah.

And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

5 He had provided Tobiah with a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, incense, temple articles, tithes of grain, new wine, and oil, which were prescribed for the Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

6 While all of this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later, I asked the king for permission to leave.

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

7 I returned to Jerusalem and understood the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8 I was greatly displeased, and I threw all of Tobiah’s household belongings out of the room.

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9 Then I ordered the rooms to be purified, and I brought back the articles of the house of God, along with the grain offerings and the incense.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

11 So I rebuked the officials and asked, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 All Judah then brought the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil into the storerooms.

Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13 I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites, and as their assistant, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing to their kinsmen.

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, 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 Remember me, my God, for this, and do not erase the good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its services.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

15 In those days, I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in heaps of grain, loading them on donkeys, as well as carrying wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So, I warned them on the day they were selling their provisions.

In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

16 People from Tyre who lived there were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem.

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17 I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

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

18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster upon us and upon this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath!"

Did not your fathers thus, 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 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and directed that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20 Once or twice, the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares spent the night outside Jerusalem.

So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21 But I warned them and said, "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath.

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

22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me also for this, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep 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 Additionally, in those days I saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

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

24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of other peoples, but they could not speak the language of Judah.

And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

25 So I confronted them, cursed them, struck some of them, pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God: 'You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or 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 Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin because of such things? Among the many nations, there was no king like him; he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Yet, even he was led into sin by foreign women.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

27 Must we then hear about you committing all this terrible evil, acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?

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

28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law to 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 Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood and breaking the covenant of the priesthood 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 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and assigned duties to the priests and Levites, each to his task.

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

31 I also made provision for the wood offering at appointed times and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good.

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