Nehemiah 13

1 On that day they read in the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. It was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should come into the assembly of God, forever.

On that day there was read in the scroll of Moses, in the ears of the people, and it has been found written in it that an Ammonite and Moabite does not come into the assembly of God for all time,

2 This was because they had not come to the people of Israel with bread and with water, but they had hired Balaam to curse Israel. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hire against them Balaam to revile them, and our God turns the reviling into a blessing.

3 As soon as they heard the law, they separated out from Israel every foreign person.

And it comes to pass, at their hearing the Law, that they separate all the mixed people from Israel.

4 Now before this Eliashib the priest was appointed over the storerooms of the house of our God. He was related to Tobiah.

And before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, [is] a relation of Tobiah,

5 Eliashib prepared for Tobiah a large storeroom, where previously they kept the grain offering, the incense, the articles, and the tithes of the grain, new wine, and the oil, which were designated for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

and he makes for him a great chamber, and there they were formerly putting the present, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil—the commanded thing of the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers—and the raised-offering of the priests.

6 But in all this time I was not in Jerusalem. For in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. After some time I asked the king for permission to leave,

And during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and at the end of days I have asked of the king,

7 and I returned to Jerusalem. I understood the evil that Eliashib had done by giving Tobiah a storeroom in the courts of the house of God.

and I come to Jerusalem, and understand concerning the evil that Eliashib has done for Tobiah, to make to him a chamber in the courts of the house of God,

8 I was very angry and I threw all Tobiah's household articles out of the storeroom.

and it is very displeasing to me, and I cast all the vessels of the house of Tobiah outside, out of the chamber,

9 I ordered that they purify the storerooms, and I put back in them the articles of the house of God, the grain offerings, and the incense.

and I command, and they cleanse the chambers, and I bring back there the vessels of the house of God with the present and the frankincense.

10 I learned that the Levites' portions had not been given to them, and they had run away, each to his own field, the Levites and the singers who did the work.

And I know that the portions of the Levites have not been given, and they flee each to his field—the Levites and the singers, doing the work.

11 So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God neglected?” I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.

And I strive with the prefects, and say, “Why has the house of God been forsaken?” And I gather them, and set them on their station;

12 Then all Judah brought in the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storerooms.

and all Judah has brought in the tithe of the grain, and of the new wine, and of the oil, to the treasuries.

13 I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and from the Levites, Pedaiah. Next to them was Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah, for they were counted as trustworthy. Their duties were to distribute the supplies to their associates.

And I appoint treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and by their hand [is] Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they have been reckoned steadfast, and on them [it is] to give a portion to their brothers.

14 Call me to mind, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out the good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its services.

Be mindful of me, O my God, for this, and do not blot out my kind acts that I have done, for the house of my God, and for its charges.

15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of heavy loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I protested that they were selling food on that day.

In those days I have seen in Judah those treading wine-vats on Sabbath, and bringing in the sheaves, and loading on the donkeys, and also, wine, grapes, and figs, and every burden, indeed, they are bringing into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, and I testify in the day of their selling provision.

16 Men from Tyre living in Jerusalem brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and they sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in the city!

And the Tyrians have dwelt in it, bringing in fish, and every ware, and selling on Sabbath to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem.

17 Then I confronted the leaders of Judah, “What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

And I strive with the nobles of Judah, and say to them, “What [is] this evil thing that you are doing, and defiling the Sabbath day?

18 Did not your fathers do this? Did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

Thus did not your fathers do? And our God brings in on us all this evil, and on this city, and you are adding fierceness on Israel, to defile the Sabbath.”

19 As soon as it became dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors be shut and that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my servants at the gates so no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

And it comes to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem have been dark before the Sabbath, that I command, and the doors are shut, and I command that they do not open them until after the Sabbath; and of my servants I have stationed at the gates; there does not come in a burden on the Sabbath day.

20 The merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice.

And they lodge—the merchants and sellers of all ware—at the outside of Jerusalem, once or twice,

21 But I warned them, “Why do you camp outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.

and I testify against them, and say to them, “Why are you lodging in front of the wall? If you repeat [it], I put forth a hand on you”; from that time they have not come in on the Sabbath.

22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves, and come and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Call me to mind for this also, my God, and have mercy on me because of the covenant loyalty you have toward me.

And I command to the Levites that they be cleansed, and coming in, keeping the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Also, this, remember for me, O my God, and have pity on me, according to the abundance of Your kindness.

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

Also, in those days, I have seen the Jews [who] have settled women of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab.

24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. None of them could speak the language of Judah, but only the language of one of the other peoples.

And of their sons, half are speaking Ashdoditish—and are not knowing to speak Jewish—and according to the language of people and people.

25 I confronted them, and I cursed them, and I hit some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

And I strive with them, and declare them vile, and strike certain of them, and pluck off their hair, and cause them to swear by God, “You do not give your daughters to their sons, nor do you take of their daughters to your sons, and to yourselves.

26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of these women? Among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, his foreign wives caused him to sin.

By these did not Solomon king of Israel sin? And among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God makes him king over all Israel—even him [whom] the strange women caused to sin.

27 Should we then listen to you and do all this great evil, and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

And do we listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God, to settle strange women?”

28 One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I caused him to flee from my presence.

And [one] of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest, [is] son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, and I cause him to flee from off me.

29 Call them to mind, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Be mindful of them, O my God, for the redeemed of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and established the duties of the priests and the Levites, each to his own task.

And I have cleansed them from every stranger, and appoint charges to priests and to Levites, each in his work,

31 I provided for the wood offering at the appointed times and for the firstfruits. Call me to mind, my God, for good.

and for the wood-offering at appointed times, and for first-fruits. Be mindful of me, O my God, for good.