On that day{H3117} they read{H7121}{(H8738)} in the book{H5612} of Moses{H4872} in the audience{H241} of the people{H5971}; and therein was found{H4672}{(H8738)} written{H3789}{(H8803)}, that the Ammonite{H5984} and the Moabite{H4125} should not come{H935}{(H8799)} into the congregation{H6951} of God{H430} for{H5704} ever{H5769};

Because they met{H6923}{(H8765)} not the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} with bread{H3899} and with water{H4325}, but hired{H7936}{(H8799)} Balaam{H1109} against them, that he should curse{H7043}{(H8763)} them: howbeit our God{H430} turned{H2015}{(H8799)} the curse{H7045} into a blessing{H1293}.

Now it came to pass, when they had heard{H8085}{(H8800)} the law{H8451}, that they separated{H914}{(H8686)} from Israel{H3478} all the mixed multitude{H6154}.

And before{H6440} this, Eliashib{H475} the priest{H3548}, having the oversight{H5414}{(H8803)} of the chamber{H3957} of the house{H1004} of our God{H430}, was allied{H7138} unto Tobiah{H2900}:

And he had prepared{H6213}{(H8799)} for him a great{H1419} chamber{H3957}, where aforetime{H6440} they laid{H5414}{(H8802)} the meat offerings{H4503}, the frankincense{H3828}, and the vessels{H3627}, and the tithes{H4643} of the corn{H1715}, the new wine{H8492}, and the oil{H3323}, which was commanded{H4687} to be given to the Levites{H3881}, and the singers{H7891}{(H8789)}, and the porters{H7778}; and the offerings{H8641} of the priests{H3548}.

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem{H3389}: for in the two{H8147} and thirtieth{H7970} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} came{H935}{(H8804)} I unto the king{H4428}, and after{H7093} certain days{H3117} obtained I leave{H7592}{(H8738)} of the king{H4428}:

And I came{H935}{(H8799)} to Jerusalem{H3389}, and understood{H995}{(H8799)} of the evil{H7451} that Eliashib{H475} did{H6213}{(H8804)} for Tobiah{H2900}, in preparing{H6213}{(H8800)} him a chamber{H5393} in the courts{H2691} of the house{H1004} of God{H430}.

And it grieved{H3415}{(H8799)} me sore{H3966}: therefore I cast forth{H7993}{(H8686)} all the household{H1004} stuff{H3627} of Tobiah{H2900} out of{H2351} the chamber{H3957}.

Then I commanded{H559}{(H8799)}, and they cleansed{H2891}{(H8762)} the chambers{H3957}: and thither brought I again{H7725}{(H8686)} the vessels{H3627} of the house{H1004} of God{H430}, with the meat offering{H4503} and the frankincense{H3828}.

And I perceived{H3045}{(H8799)} that the portions{H4521} of the Levites{H3881} had not been given{H5414}{(H8738)} them: for the Levites{H3881} and the singers{H7891}{(H8789)}, that did{H6213}{(H8802)} the work{H4399}, were fled{H1272}{(H8799)} every one{H376} to his field{H7704}.

Then contended{H7378}{(H8799)} I with the rulers{H5461}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Why is the house{H1004} of God{H430} forsaken{H5800}{(H8738)}? And I gathered them together{H6908}{(H8762)}, and set{H5975}{(H8686)} them in their place{H5977}.

Then brought{H935}{(H8689)} all Judah{H3063} the tithe{H4643} of the corn{H1715} and the new wine{H8492} and the oil{H3323} unto the treasuries{H214}.

And I made treasurers{H686}{(H8799)} over the treasuries{H214}, Shelemiah{H8018} the priest{H3548}, and Zadok{H6659} the scribe{H5608}{(H8802)}, 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}{(H8738)} faithful{H539}{(H8737)}, and their office was to distribute{H2505}{(H8800)} unto their brethren{H251}.

Remember{H2142}{(H8798)} me, O my God{H430}, concerning this, and wipe not out{H4229}{(H8686)} my good{H2617} deeds that I have done{H6213}{(H8804)} for the house{H1004} of my God{H430}, and for the offices{H4929} thereof.

In those days{H3117} saw{H7200}{(H8804)} I in Judah{H3063} some treading{H1869}{(H8802)} wine presses{H1660} on the sabbath{H7676}, and bringing in{H935}{(H8688)} sheaves{H6194}, and lading{H6006}{(H8802)} asses{H2543}; as also wine{H3196}, grapes{H6025}, and figs{H8384}, and all manner of burdens{H4853}, which they brought{H935}{(H8688)} into Jerusalem{H3389} on the sabbath{H7676} day{H3117}: and I testified{H5749}{(H8686)} against them in the day{H3117} wherein they sold{H4376}{(H8800)} victuals{H6718}.

There dwelt{H3427}{(H8804)} men of Tyre{H6876} also therein, which brought{H935}{(H8688)} fish{H1709}{(H8675)}{H1709}, and all manner of ware{H4377}, and sold{H4376}{(H8802)} on the sabbath{H7676} unto the children{H1121} of Judah{H3063}, and in Jerusalem{H3389}.

Then I contended{H7378}{(H8799)} with the nobles{H2715} of Judah{H3063}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, What evil{H7451} thing{H1697} is this that ye do{H6213}{(H8802)}, and profane{H2490}{(H8764)} the sabbath{H7676} day{H3117}?

Did{H6213}{(H8804)} not your fathers{H1} thus, and did{H935} not our God{H430} bring{H935}{(H8686)} all this evil{H7451} upon us, and upon this city{H5892}? yet ye bring{H935}{(H8686)} more{H3254}{(H8688)} wrath{H2740} upon Israel{H3478} by profaning{H2490}{(H8763)} the sabbath{H7676}.

And it came to pass, that when the gates{H8179} of Jerusalem{H3389} began to be dark{H6751}{(H8804)} before{H6440} the sabbath{H7676}, I commanded{H559}{(H8799)} that the gates{H1817} should be shut{H5462}{(H8735)}, and charged{H559}{(H8799)} that they should not be opened{H6605}{(H8799)} till after{H310} the sabbath{H7676}: and some of my servants{H5288} set{H5975}{(H8689)} I at the gates{H8179}, that there should no burden{H4853} be brought in{H935}{(H8799)} on the sabbath{H7676} day{H3117}.

So the merchants{H7402}{(H8802)} and sellers{H4376}{(H8802)} of all kind of ware{H4465} lodged{H3885}{(H8799)} without{H2351} Jerusalem{H3389} once{H6471} or twice{H8147}.

Then I testified{H5749}{(H8686)} against them, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Why lodge{H3885}{(H8801)} ye about{H5048} the wall{H2346}? if ye do so again{H8138}{(H8799)}, I will lay{H7971}{(H8799)} hands{H3027} on you. From that time{H6256} forth came{H935}{(H8804)} they no more on the sabbath{H7676}.

And I commanded{H559}{(H8799)} the Levites{H3881} that they should cleanse{H2891}{(H8693)} themselves, and that they should come{H935}{(H8802)} and keep{H8104}{(H8802)} the gates{H8179}, to sanctify{H6942}{(H8763)} the sabbath{H7676} day{H3117}. Remember{H2142}{(H8798)} me, O my God{H430}, concerning this also, and spare{H2347}{(H8798)} me according to the greatness{H7230} of thy mercy{H2617}.

In those days{H3117} also saw{H7200}{(H8804)} I Jews{H3064} that had married{H3427}{(H8689)} wives{H802} of Ashdod{H796}, of Ammon{H5984}, and of Moab{H4125}:

And their children{H1121} spake{H1696}{(H8764)} half{H2677} in the speech of Ashdod{H797}, and could{H5234}{(H8688)} not speak{H1696}{(H8763)} in the Jews' language{H3066}, but according to the language{H3956} of each{H5971} people{H5971}.

And I contended{H7378}{(H8799)} with them, and cursed{H7043}{(H8762)} them, and smote{H5221}{(H8686)} certain{H582} of them, and plucked off their hair{H4803}{(H8799)}, and made them swear{H7650}{(H8686)} by God{H430}, saying, Ye shall not give{H5414}{(H8799)} your daughters{H1323} unto their sons{H1121}, nor take{H5375}{(H8799)} their daughters{H1323} unto your sons{H1121}, or for yourselves.

Did not Solomon{H8010} king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} sin{H2398}{(H8804)} by these things? yet among many{H7227} nations{H1471} was there no king{H4428} like him, who was beloved{H157}{(H8803)} of his God{H430}, and God{H430} made{H5414}{(H8799)} him king{H4428} over all Israel{H3478}: nevertheless even him{H1571} did outlandish{H5237} women{H802} cause to sin{H2398}{(H8689)}.

Shall we then hearken{H8085}{(H8799)} unto you to do{H6213}{(H8800)} all this great{H1419} evil{H7451}, to transgress{H4603}{(H8800)} against our God{H430} in marrying{H3427}{(H8687)} strange{H5237} wives{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}{(H8686)} him from me.

Remember{H2142}{(H8798)} 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}{(H8765)} I them from all strangers{H5236}, and appointed{H5975}{(H8686)} the wards{H4931} of the priests{H3548} and the Levites{H3881}, every one{H376} in his business{H4399};

And for the wood{H6086} offering{H7133}, at times{H6256} appointed{H2163}{(H8794)}, and for the firstfruits{H1061}. Remember{H2142}{(H8798)} me, O my God{H430}, for good{H2896}.