Nehemiah 13

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

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

2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and with water, and had hired Balaam against them, to curse them; but our God turned the curse into blessing.

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

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

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

And before this, Eliashib the priest, who had the oversight of the chambers of the house of our God, a kinsman of Tobijah,

5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, 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.

had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the oblations, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which was commanded for the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers, and the heave-offerings of the priests.

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

And during all that [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king; and after some time I obtained leave of the king.

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

And I came to Jerusalem, and observed the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobijah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8 And it grieved me greatly: therefore I cast forth all the household goods of Tobiah out of the chamber.

And it grieved me much, and I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobijah out of the chamber.

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

And I commanded, and they purified the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the oblation and the frankincense.

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

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

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

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

12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

And all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil into the storehouses.

13 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 accounted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.

And I made storekeepers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and subordinate to them, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were esteemed faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.

14 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 its offices.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God, and for the charges thereof!

15 In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and putting them on donkeys; 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 when they sold food.

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

16 There dwelt men of Tyre also in the city, who brought fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

Men of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold it on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

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

And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this which ye do, profaning the sabbath day?

18 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.

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? And ye will bring more wrath against Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19 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 I set some of my servants at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

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

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

And the dealers and sellers of all kind of ware passed the night without Jerusalem once or twice.

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

And I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye pass the night before the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came not on the sabbath.

22 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.

And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to hallow the sabbath day. Remember this also for me, my God, and spare me according to thy great loving-kindness!

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

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

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

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

25 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 to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair, and adjured them by God [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

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

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among the many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; but even him did foreign wives cause to sin.

27 Shall we then hearken to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign women?

And should we hearken to you to do all this great evil, to act unfaithfully to our God by marrying foreign wives?

28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore 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; and I chased him from me.

29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

Remember them, my God, for they are polluters of the priesthood, and of the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites!

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

And I purified them from all foreigners, and appointed the charges of the priests and the Levites, every one in his service;

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

and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good!