1
On that dayH3117 they readH7121 in the bookH5612 of MosesH4872 in the audienceH241 of the people;H5971 and therein was foundH4672 written,H3789 that the AmmoniteH5984 and the MoabiteH4125 should not comeH935 into the congregationH6951 of GodH430 for ever;H5769
2
BecauseH3588 they metH6923 not the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 with breadH3899 and with water,H4325 but hiredH7936 BalaamH1109 againstH5921 them, that he should curseH7043 them: however, our GodH430 turnedH2015 the curseH7045 into a blessing.H1293
3
Now it cameH1961 to pass, when they had heardH8085 the law,H8451 that they separatedH914 from IsraelH3478 allH3605 the mixedH6154 multitude.H6154
4
And beforeH6440 this,H2088 EliashibH475 the priest,H3548 havingH5414 the oversightH5414 of the chamberH3957 of the houseH1004 of our God,H430 was alliedH7138 to Tobiah:H2900
5
And he had preparedH6213 for him a greatH1419 chamber,H3957 whereH8033 aforetimeH6440 they laidH5414 the meat offerings,H4503 the frankincense,H3828 and the vessels,H3627 and the tithesH4643 of the corn,H1715 the newH8492 wine,H8492 and the oil,H3323 which was commandedH4687 to be given to the Levites,H3881 and the singers,H7891 and the porters;H7778 and the offeringsH4503 of the priests.H3548
6
But in allH3605 thisH2088 time was not I at Jerusalem:H3389 for in the twoH8147 and thirtiethH7970 yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 cameH935 I to the king,H4428 and afterH7093 certain daysH3117 obtainedH7592 I leaveH7592 of the king:H4428
7
And I cameH935 to Jerusalem,H3389 and understoodH995 of the evilH7451 that EliashibH475 didH6213 for Tobiah,H2900 in preparingH6213 him a chamberH5393 in the courtsH2691 of the houseH1004 of God.H430
8
And it grievedH7489 me sore:H3966 therefore I castH7993 forth allH3605 the householdH1004 stuffH3627 to TobiahH2900 out of the chamber.H3957
9
Then I commanded,H559 and they cleansedH2891 the chambers:H3957 and thitherH8033 broughtH7725 I againH7725 the vesselsH3627 of the houseH1004 of God,H430 with the meat offeringH4503 and the frankincense.H3828
10
And I perceivedH3045 that the portionsH4521 of the LevitesH3881 had not been givenH5414 them: for the LevitesH3881 and the singers,H7891 that didH6213 the work,H4399 were fledH1272 everyH376 oneH376 to his field.H7704
11
Then contendedH7378 I with the rulers,H5461 and said,H559 WhyH4069 is the houseH1004 of GodH430 forsaken?H5800 And I gatheredH6908 them together, and setH5975 them in their place.H5977
12
Then broughtH935 allH3605 JudahH3063 the titheH4643 of the cornH1715 and the newH8492 wineH8492 and the oilH3323 to the treasuries.H214
13
And I made treasurersH686 overH5921 the treasuries,H214 ShelemiahH8018 the priest,H3548 and ZadokH6659 the scribe,H5608 and of the Levites,H3881 Pedaiah:H6305 and nextH5921 H3027 to them was HananH2605 the sonH1121 of Zaccur,H2139 the sonH1121 of Mattaniah:H4983 for they were countedH2803 faithful,H539 and their office was to distributeH2505 to their brothers.H251
14
RememberH2142 me, O my God,H430 concerningH5921 this,H2088 and wipeH4229 not out my goodH2617 deeds that I have doneH6213 for the houseH1004 of my God,H430 and for the officesH4929 thereof.
15
In thoseH1992 daysH3117 sawH7200 I in JudahH3063 some treadingH1869 wineH1660 pressesH1660 on the sabbath,H7676 and bringingH935 in sheaves,H6194 and ladingH6006 asses;H2543 as alsoH637 wine,H3196 grapes,H6025 and figs,H8384 and allH3605 manner of burdens,H4853 which they broughtH935 into JerusalemH3389 on the sabbathH7676 day:H3117 and I testifiedH5749 against them in the dayH3117 wherein they soldH4376 victuals.H6718
16
There dwelledH3427 men of TyreH6876 also therein, which broughtH935 fish,H1709 and allH3605 manner of ware,H4377 and soldH4376 on the sabbathH7676 to the childrenH1121 of Judah,H3063 and in Jerusalem.H3389
17
Then I contendedH7378 with the noblesH2715 of Judah,H3063 and saidH559 to them, WhatH4100 evilH7451 thingH1697 is thisH2088 that you do,H6213 and profaneH2490 the sabbathH7676 day?H3117
18
Did not your fathersH1 thus,H3541 and did not our GodH430 bringH935 allH3605 thisH2088 evilH7451 on us, and on thisH2063 city?H5892 yet you bringH935 moreH3254 wrathH2740 on IsraelH3478 by profaningH2490 the sabbath.H7676
19
And it cameH1961 to pass, that whenH834 the gatesH8179 of JerusalemH3389 beganH6751 to be darkH6751 beforeH6440 the sabbath,H7676 I commandedH559 that the gatesH1817 should be shut,H5462 and chargedH559 that they should not be openedH6605 tillH5704 afterH310 the sabbath:H7676 and some of my servantsH5288 setH5975 I atH5921 the gates,H8179 that there should noH3808 burdenH4853 be broughtH935 in on the sabbathH7676 day.H3117
20
So the merchantsH7402 and sellersH4376 of allH3605 kind of wareH4465 lodgedH3885 withoutH2351 JerusalemH3389 onceH6471 or twice.H8147
21
Then I testifiedH5749 against them, and saidH559 to them, WhyH4069 lodgeH3885 you aboutH5048 the wall?H2346 ifH518 you do so again,H8138 I will layH7971 handsH3027 on you. From that timeH6256 forth cameH935 they noH3808 more on the sabbath.H7676
22
And I commandedH559 the LevitesH3881 that they should cleanseH2891 themselves, and that they should comeH935 and keepH8104 the gates,H8179 to sanctifyH6942 the sabbathH7676 day.H3117 RememberH2142 me, O my God,H430 concerning thisH2063 also,H1571 and spareH2347 me according to the greatnessH7230 of your mercy.H2617
23
In thoseH1992 daysH3117 alsoH1571 sawH7200 I JewsH3064 that had marriedH3427 wivesH802 of Ashdod,H795 of Ammon,H5983 and of Moab:H4125
24
And their childrenH1121 spokeH1696 halfH2677 in the speechH3066 of Ashdod,H795 and couldH5234 not speakH1696 in the Jews'H3066 language,H3956 but according to the language of each people.H5971
25
And I contendedH7378 with them, and cursedH7043 them, and smoteH5221 certainH582 of them, and pluckedH4803 off their hair, and made them swearH7650 by God,H430 saying, You shall not giveH5414 your daughtersH1323 to their sons,H1121 norH518 takeH5375 their daughtersH1323 to your sons,H1121 or for yourselves.
26
Did not SolomonH8010 kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 sinH2398 by theseH428 things? yet among manyH7227 nationsH1471 was there noH3808 kingH4428 likeH3644 him, who was belovedH157 of his God,H430 and GodH430 madeH5414 him kingH4428 overH5921 allH3605 Israel:H3478 neverthelessH1571 even him did outlandishH5237 womenH802 cause to sin.H2398
27
Shall we then listenH8085 to you to doH6213 allH3605 thisH2063 greatH1419 evil,H7451 to transgressH4603 against our GodH430 in marryingH3427 strangeH5237 wives?H802
28
And one of the sonsH1121 of Joiada,H3111 the sonH1121 of EliashibH475 the highH1419 priest,H3548 was sonH2860 in lawH2859 to SanballatH5571 the Horonite:H2772 therefore I chasedH1272 him from me.
29
RememberH2142 them, O my God,H430 becauseH5921 they have defiledH1351 the priesthood,H3550 and the covenantH1285 of the priesthood,H3550 and of the Levites.H3881
30
Thus cleansedH2891 I them from allH3605 strangers,H1121 H5236 and appointedH5975 the wardsH4931 of the priestsH3548 and the Levites,H3881 everyH376 oneH376 in his business;H4399
31
And for the woodH6086 offering,H7133 at timesH6256 appointed,H2163 and for the first fruits.H1061 RememberH2142 me, O my God,H430 for good.H2896