Nehemiah 13

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

‌ʻI he ʻaho ko ia naʻa nau lau ʻi he fono ʻa Mōsese ʻi he ʻao ʻoe kakai; pea naʻe ʻilo ʻi ai, ʻe ʻikai hoko ki he fakataha ʻoe ʻOtua ʻae kakai ʻAmoni, mo e kakai Moape ʻo taʻengata;

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

Koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai tenau fakafetaulaki ki he fānau ʻa ʻIsileli ʻaki ʻae mā mo e vai, ka naʻa nau tuku totongi kia Pelami ke tuʻu kiate kinautolu, koeʻuhi ke ne tukiʻi ʻakinautolu: ka naʻe liliu ʻe hotau ʻOtua ʻae tuki ko e tāpuaki.

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

Pea naʻe hoko ʻo pehē, ʻi heʻenau fanongo ki he fono, naʻa nau fakamavae mei ʻIsileli ʻae ngaahi kakai kehekehe kotoa pē.

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

Pea ki muʻa ʻi he meʻa ni, ko Iliasipi ko e taulaʻeiki, ʻaia naʻe pule ki he fale ʻe taha ʻi he fale ʻoe ʻOtua, naʻe kaumeʻa ia kia Topaia:

5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid 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, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

Pea naʻa ne teuteu moʻona ʻae fale lahi, ʻaia naʻa nau tuku ki ai ʻi muʻa ʻae ngaahi feilaulau meʻakai, mo e meʻa namu kakala, mo e ngaahi ipu, mo e ngaahi meʻa ʻoe tukuhau, mo e uaine foʻou, mo e lolo, ʻaia naʻe fekau ke foaki ki he kau Livai, mo e kau hiva, mo e kau leʻo matapā; mo e ngaahi feilaulau ʻoe kau taulaʻeiki.

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:

Ka ʻi he ngaahi kuonga ni kotoa pē naʻe ʻikai te u ʻi Selūsalema: he naʻaku haʻu ki he tuʻi, ʻi hono taʻu ʻe tolungofulu ma ua ʻo ʻAtakisekisi ko e tuʻi ʻo Papilone, pea hili ʻae ʻaho niʻihi naʻaku maʻu ʻae fekau mei he tuʻi:

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.

Pea ne u haʻu ki Selūsalema, pea u hoko ʻo ʻilo ʻae kovi naʻe fai ʻe Iliasipi maʻa Topaia, ʻi heʻene teuteu moʻona ʻae fale ʻi he ngaahi potu fale ʻoe fale ʻo hotau ʻOtua.

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

Pea naʻaku mamahi lahi ai: ko ia naʻaku lī kituʻa ʻae ngaahi ngaʻotoʻota kotoa pē ʻo Topaia mei he fale.

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

Pea naʻaku fekau, pea naʻa nau fakamaʻa ʻae ngaahi fale: pea naʻaku toe fetuku ki ai ʻae ngaahi ipu ʻoe fale ʻoe ʻOtua, mo e ngaahi feilaulau meʻakai mo e meʻa namu kakala.

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.

Pea ne u vakai naʻe ʻikai faʻa ʻatu ki he kau Livai honau ngaahi ʻinasi he ko e kau Livai mo e kau hiva, ʻaia naʻe fai ʻae ngāue, kuo hola taki taha ki heʻene ngoue.

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

Pea naʻaku valoki ʻae kau pule, ʻo pehē, Ko e hā kuo liʻaki ai ʻae fale ʻoe ʻOtua? Pea ne u tānaki ʻo fakataha ʻakinautolu, ʻo fokotuʻu ʻakinautolu ʻi honau potu.

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

Pea naʻe ʻomi ai ʻe Siuta kotoa pē ʻae tāuvao ʻoe uite mo e uaine foʻou mo e lolo ki he ngaahi feleoko.

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.

Pea ne u fakanofo ʻae kau leʻo koloa ki he ngaahi fale koloa, ko Selemaia ko e taulaʻeiki, mo Satoki ko e tangata tohi, pea ʻi he kau Livai, ko Pitaia: pea naʻe hoko mo kinautolu, ʻa Hanani, ko e foha ʻo Sakuli, ko e foha ʻo Matania: he naʻe ongolelei ʻakinautolu ko e angatonu, pea ko ʻenau ngāue ia ke tufaki ki honau ngaahi kāinga.

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.

‌ʻE hoku ʻOtua, ke ke manatuʻi au koeʻuhi ko e meʻa ni, pea ʻoua naʻa ke holoholo ke mole ʻeku ngaahi ngāue lelei ʻaia kuo u fai maʻae fale ʻo hoku ʻOtua, pea maʻae ngaahi lakanga ngāue ʻi ai.

15 In those days I saw in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; 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 in which they sold provisions.

Pea naʻaku mamata ki he niʻihi ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko ia naʻe malakaki ʻae ngaahi tataʻoʻanga uaine ʻi he ʻaho tapu, pea fetuku ʻae ngaahi ū uite, pea fakaheka ki he fanga ʻasi, pea mo e uaine foki, mo e ngaahi kālepi, mo e ngaahi fiki, mo e ngaahi kavenga kehekehe, ʻaia naʻa nau fetuku ki Selūsalema ʻi he ʻaho tapu: pea naʻaku valoki ʻakinautolu ʻi he ʻaho naʻa nau fakatau meʻa kai,

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

Pea naʻe nofo ai ʻae kau tangata Taia, ʻaia naʻa nau ʻomi ʻae ngaahi ika, mo e ngaahi meʻa kehekehe, pea fakatau ʻi he ʻaho tapu ki he fānau ʻa Siuta, pea ʻi Selūsalema.

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?

Pea ne u valoki ʻae ngaahi houʻeiki ʻo Siuta, pea u pehē kiate kinautolu, “Ko e hā ʻae meʻa kovi ni ʻoku mou fai, pea mou fakahala ʻae ʻaho tapu?

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.

‌ʻIkai naʻe fai pehē ʻe hoʻomou ngaahi tamai, pea ʻikai naʻe ʻomi ʻe hotau ʻOtua ʻae ngaahi kovi ni kiate kitautolu, pea ki he kolo ni? Ka ʻoku mou ʻomi ʻae houhau lahi hake ki ʻIsileli ʻi hoʻomou fakahalaʻi ʻae ʻaho tapu.”

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.

Pea ʻi he fakaʻaʻau ke poʻuli ʻae ngaahi matapā ʻo Selūsalema ʻi he teʻeki hoko ʻae ʻaho tapu, naʻaku fekau ke tāpuni ʻae ngaahi matapā, pea u fekau ke ʻoua naʻa toʻo kaeʻoua ke hili ʻae ʻaho tapu; pea ne u fakanofo ʻae niʻihi ʻo ʻeku kau tamaioʻeiki ʻi he ngaahi matapā, ke ʻoua naʻa ʻomi ki ai ha kavenga ʻe taha ʻi he ʻaho tapu.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Ko ia naʻe mohe ai ʻituʻa Selūsalema ʻae kau maʻu koloa mo e kau fakatau ʻoe ngaahi meʻa kehekehe kotoa pē, ʻo tuʻo taha pe tuʻo ua.

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

Pea ne u valoki ʻakinautolu, ʻo pehē kiate kinautolu, “Ko e hā ʻoku mou mohe ai ʻo ofi ki he ʻā maka? Kapau te mou toe fai ia, te u puke ʻakimoutolu.” Pea talu mei he kuonga ko ia naʻe ʻikai te nau toe haʻu ʻi he ʻaho tapu.

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.

Pea ne u fekau ki he kau Livai, ke nau fakamaʻa ʻakinautolu, pea ke nau haʻu ʻo vakai ki he ngaahi matapā, ke fakatapui ʻae ʻaho tapu. ʻE hoku ʻOtua, ke ke manatuʻi au koeʻuhi ko e meʻa ni foki, pea fakamoʻui au ʻo fakatatau ki hono lahi ʻo hoʻo angaʻofa.

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

Pea naʻaku mamata foki ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho ko ia ki he kau Siu naʻa nau mali mo e kau fefine ʻo ʻAsitoti, mo ʻAmoni, mo Moape;

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.

Pea naʻe lea fakavaeua ʻe heʻenau fānau ʻi he lea ʻo ʻAsitoti, pea naʻe ʻikai te nau faʻa lea ʻi he lea ʻae kakai Siu pē, kae ʻi he lea ʻae kakai fakatouʻosi.

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.

Pea ne u valoki ʻakinautolu, pea manuki ʻakinautolu, pea taaʻi honau niʻihi, pea fusi honau fulufuluʻi [ʻulu], pea fakafuakavaʻi ʻakinautolu ʻi he ʻOtua, ʻo pehē, “ʻOua naʻa mou foaki homou ngaahi ʻofefine ki honau ngaahi foha, pe toʻo honau ngaahi ʻofefine ki homou ngaahi foha, pe moʻomoutolu.

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 outlandish women cause to sin.

‌ʻIkai naʻe fai angahala ʻe Solomone ko e tuʻi ʻa ʻIsileli ʻi he ngaahi meʻa ni? Ka naʻe ʻikai ha tuʻi hangē ko ia ʻi he ngaahi puleʻanga lahi, ʻaia naʻe ʻofeina ʻe hono ʻOtua, pea fakanofo ia ʻe he ʻOtua ke tuʻi ki ʻIsileli kotoa pē, ka ko e moʻoni naʻe fakaangahalaʻi ia ʻe he kau fefine muli.

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

Pea te mou tokanga koā kiate kimoutolu ke mou fai ʻae ngaahi kovi lahi ni, ke talangataʻa ki hotau ʻOtua ʻi he mali mo e kau fefine muli?”

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 chased him from me.

Pea ko e foha ʻe taha ʻo Soiata, ko e foha ʻo Iliasipi ko e taulaʻeiki lahi, ko e foha ia ʻi he fono kia Sanipalate ko e tangata Holoni: ko ia naʻaku tuli ia ke ʻalu ʻiate au.

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

‌ʻE hoku ʻOtua, ke ke manatuʻi ʻakinautolu, ko e meʻa ʻi heʻenau fakahalaʻi ʻae ngāue fakataulaʻeiki, mo e fuakava ʻoe ngāue fakataulaʻeiki, pea ʻoe kau Livai.

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

Naʻe pehē pe ʻeku fakamaʻa ʻakinautolu mei he kakai muli, peau tuʻutuʻuni ʻae ngaahi lakanga ʻoe kau taulaʻeiki, mo e kau Livai, takitaha ki heʻene ngāue;

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

Pea mo e foaki ʻoe ʻakau fefie, ʻi he ngaahi ʻaho naʻe kotofa, pea ki he ngaahi ʻuluaki fua. ʻE hoku ʻOtua, ke ke manatuʻi au, ke u lelei ai.