Chapter 13

On that day they read⁸ in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found⁸ written,⁷ that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come⁴ into the congregation of God for ever;

Because they met¹⁴ not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired⁴ Balaam against them, that he should curse¹⁵ them: howbeit our God turned⁴ the curse into a blessing.

Now it came to pass, when they had heard² the law, that they separated⁵⁵ from Israel all the mixed multitude.

And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight⁷ of the chamber of the house of our God, [was] allied unto Tobiah:

And he had prepared⁴ for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid⁶ the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the singers,³⁵ and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came¹ I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave⁸ of the king:

And I came⁴ to Jerusalem, and understood⁴ of the evil that Eliashib did¹ for Tobiah, in preparing² him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

And it grieved⁴ me sore: therefore I cast forth⁵⁵ all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

Then I commanded,⁴ and they cleansed¹⁷ the chambers: and thither brought I again⁵⁵ the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

And I perceived⁴ that the portions of the Levites had not been given⁸ [them]: for the Levites and the singers,³⁵ that did⁶ the work, were fled⁴ every one to his field.

Then contended⁴ I with the rulers, and said,⁴ Why is the house of God forsaken?⁸ And I gathered them together,¹⁷ and set⁵⁵ them in their place.

Then brought⁵² all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

And I made treasurers⁴ over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe,⁶ and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them [was] Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted⁸ faithful,¹² and their office [was] to distribute² unto their brethren.

Remember³ me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out⁵⁵ my good deeds that I have done¹ for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

In those days saw¹ I in Judah [some] treading⁶ wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in⁵⁶ sheaves, and lading⁶ asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into⁵⁶ Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified⁵⁵ [against them] in the day wherein they sold² victuals.

There dwelt¹ men of Tyre also therein, which brought⁵⁶ fish, ¹⁷⁰⁹ and all manner of ware, and sold⁶ on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

Then I contended⁴ with the nobles of Judah, and said⁴ unto them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do,⁶ and profane¹⁸ the sabbath day?

Did¹ not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring⁵⁵ all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more⁵⁶ wrath upon Israel by profaning¹⁵ the sabbath.

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark¹ before the sabbath, I commanded⁴ that the gates should be shut,¹¹ and charged⁴ that they should not be opened⁴ till after the sabbath: and [some] of my servants set⁵² I at the gates, [that] there should no burden be brought⁴ in on the sabbath day.

So the merchants⁶ and sellers⁶ of all kind of ware lodged⁴ without Jerusalem once or twice.

Then I testified⁵⁵ against them, and said⁴ unto them, Why lodge⁵ ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again,⁴ I will lay⁴ hands on you. From that time forth came¹ they no [more] on the sabbath.

And I commanded⁴ the Levites that they should cleanse¹⁰² themselves, and [that] they should come⁶ [and] keep⁶ the gates, to sanctify¹⁵ the sabbath day. Remember³ me, O my God, [concerning] this also, and spare³ me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

In those days also saw¹ I Jews [that] had married⁵² wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:

And their children spake¹⁸ half in the speech of Ashdod, and could⁵⁶ not speak¹⁵ in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

And I contended⁴ with them, and cursed¹⁷ them, and smote⁵⁵ certain of them, and plucked off their hair,⁴ and made them swear⁵⁵ by God, [saying], Ye shall not give⁴ your daughters unto their sons, nor take⁴ their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin¹ by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved⁷ of his God, and God made⁴ him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.⁵²

Shall we then hearken⁴ unto you to do² all this great evil, to transgress² against our God in marrying⁵³ strange wives?

And [one] of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, [was] son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased⁵⁵ him from me.

Remember³ them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

Thus cleansed¹⁴ I them from all strangers, and appointed⁵⁵ the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

And for the wood offering, at times appointed,³⁰ and for the firstfruits. Remember³ me, O my God, for good.