Nehemiah 13

1On that dayH3117 they readH7121 in the bookH5612 of MosesH4872 in the audience of the peopleH5971; and therein was foundH4672 writtenH3789, that an AmmoniteH5984 and a MoabiteH4125 should not enter into the assemblyH6951 of GodH430 for everH5769, 2because they metH6923 not the children of IsraelH3478 with breadH3899 and with waterH4325, but hiredH7936 BalaamH1109 against them, to curseH7045 them: howbeit our GodH430 turnedH2015 the curseH7045 into a blessingH1293. 3And it came to pass, when they had heardH8085 the lawH8451, that they separatedH914 from IsraelH3478 all the mixed multitude.

4Now before this, EliashibH475 the priestH3548, who was appointed over the chambers of the houseH1004 of our GodH430, being allied unto TobiahH2900, 5had prepared for him a greatH1419 chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincenseH3828, and the vesselsH3627, and the tithesH4643 of the grainH1715, the newH8492 wineH8492, and the oilH3323, which wereH1961 givenH5414 by commandmentH4687 to the LevitesH3881, and the singersH7891, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priestsH3548. 6But in all this time I wasH1961 not at JerusalemH3389; for in the twoH8147 and thirtieth yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 I wentH935 unto the kingH4428: and after certain daysH3117 askedH7592 I leave of the kingH4428, 7and I cameH935 to JerusalemH3389, and understoodH995 the evilH7451 that EliashibH475 had done for TobiahH2900, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the houseH1004 of GodH430. 8And it grieved me sore: therefore I castH7993 forth all the householdH1004 stuff of TobiahH2900 out of the chamber. 9Then I commanded, and they cleansedH2891 the chambers: and thither broughtH7725 I again the vesselsH3627 of the houseH1004 of GodH430, with the meal-offerings and the frankincenseH3828.

10And I perceived that the portionsH4521 of the LevitesH3881 had not been givenH5414 them; so that the LevitesH3881 and the singersH7891, that did the workH4399, were fledH1272 every oneH376 to his fieldH7704. 11Then contendedH7378 I with the rulers, and saidH559, WhyH4069 is the houseH1004 of GodH430 forsaken? And I gatheredH6908 them togetherH6908, and setH5975 them in their placeH5977. 12Then broughtH935 all JudahH3063 the titheH4643 of the grainH1715 and the newH8492 wineH8492 and the oilH3323 unto the treasuriesH214. 13And I made treasurers over the treasuriesH214, ShelemiahH8018 the priestH3548, and ZadokH6659 the scribeH5608, and of the LevitesH3881, PedaiahH6305: and next to them was HananH2605 the sonH1121 of ZaccurH2139, the sonH1121 of MattaniahH4983; for they were countedH5608 faithfulH539, and their business was to distribute unto their brethren. 14RememberH2142 me, O my GodH430, concerning this, and wipeH4229 not out my good deeds that I have done for the houseH1004 of my GodH430, and for the observances thereof.

15In those daysH3117 sawH7200 I in JudahH3063 some men treadingH1869 winepressesH1660 on the sabbathH7676, and bringingH935 in sheaves, and lading asses therewith; as alsoH637 wineH3196, grapes, and figsH8384, and all manner of burdens, which they broughtH935 into JerusalemH3389 on the sabbathH7676 dayH3117: and I testifiedH5749 against them in the dayH3117 wherein they soldH4376 victuals. 16There dweltH3427 men of Tyre also therein, who broughtH935 in fishH1709, and all manner of wares, and soldH4376 on the sabbathH7676 unto the children of JudahH3063, and in JerusalemH3389. 17Then I contendedH7378 with the nobles of JudahH3063, and saidH559 unto them, What evilH7451 thingH1697 is this that ye do, and profaneH2490 the sabbathH7676 dayH3117? 18Did not your fathersH1 thusH3541, and did not our GodH430 bringH935 all this evilH7451 upon us, and upon this cityH5892? yet ye bringH935 more wrath upon IsraelH3478 by profaningH2490 the sabbathH7676.

19And it cameH935 to pass that, when the gatesH8179 of JerusalemH3389 began to beH1961 dark before the sabbathH7676, I commanded that the doorsH1817 should beH1961 shutH5462, and commanded that they should not beH1961 openedH6605 till after the sabbathH7676: and some of my servantsH5288 setH5975 I over the gatesH8179, that there should no burdenH4853 beH1961 broughtH935 in on the sabbathH7676 dayH3117. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without JerusalemH3389 once or twice. 21Then I testifiedH5749 against them, and saidH559 unto them, WhyH4069 lodge ye about the wallH2346? if ye do so again, I will lay handsH3027 on you. From that timeH6256 forthH7971 cameH935 they no moreH4480 on the sabbathH7676. 22And I commanded the LevitesH3881 that they should purifyH2891 themselves, and that they should comeH935 and keepH8104 the gatesH8179, to sanctifyH6942 the sabbathH7676 dayH3117. RememberH2142 unto me, O my GodH430, this alsoH1571, and spare me according to the greatnessH7230 of thy lovingkindness.

23In those daysH3117 alsoH1571 sawH7200 I the JewsH3064 that had married womenH802 of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof Moab: 24and their children spake halfH2677 in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speakH1696 in the Jews’ languageH3956, but according to the languageH3956 of each peopleH5971. 25And I contendedH7378 with them, and cursedH7043 them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and madeH5414 them swearH7650 by GodH430, saying, Ye shall not giveH5414 your daughtersH1323 unto their sonsH1121, nor takeH5375 their daughtersH1323 for your sonsH1121, or for yourselves. 26Did not SolomonH8010 kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 sinH2398 by these thingsH428? yet among manyH7227 nationsH1471 wasH1961 there no kingH4428 like him, and he wasH1961 beloved of his GodH430, and GodH430 madeH5414 him kingH4428 over all IsraelH3478: nevertheless even him did foreignH5237 womenH802 cause to sinH2398. 27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this greatH1419 evilH7451, to trespass against our GodH430 in marrying foreignH5237 womenH802?

28And one of the sonsH1121 of JoiadaH3111, the sonH1121 of EliashibH475 the high priestH3548, was son-in-law to SanballatH5571 the HoroniteH2772: therefore I chased him from me. 29RememberH2142 them, O my GodH430, because they have defiled the priesthoodH3550, and the covenantH1285 of the priesthoodH3550, and of the LevitesH3881.

30Thus cleansedH2891 I them from all foreigners, and appointedH5975 charges for the priestsH3548 and for the LevitesH3881, every oneH376 in his workH4399; 31and for the wood-offering, at timesH6256 appointedH2163, and for the first-fruits. RememberH2142 me, O my GodH430, for goodH2896.