16People 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.
17I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?
18Didn’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!"
19When 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.
20Once or twice, the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares spent the night outside Jerusalem.
21But 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.
22Then 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.
23Additionally, in those days I saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.