1On that day there was read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people; and there was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
2because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hired against them Balaam to curse him; but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3And it came to pass, when they heard the Torah, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4And before this, Eliashib the priest, who was set over the chamber of the house of our God, was related to Tobiah,
5and he made for him a great chamber, where formerly they put the grain-offering, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, the commandment (mitzvah) of the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers, and the heave-offerings of the priests.
6But 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 asked leave from the king.
7And I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, to make for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8And it was very grievous to me, and I threw all the vessels of the house of Tobiah outside, out of the chamber.
9Then I spoke, and they purified the chambers; and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain-offering and the frankincense.
10And I knew that the portions of the Levites had not been given, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled, each man (ish) to his field.
11And I contended with the rulers and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them and set them in their station.
12And all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.
13And I appointed as treasurers over the treasuries Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and at their hand Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah; for they were reckoned faithful, and it was upon them to distribute to their brothers.
14Remember for me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my kindnesses that I have done for the house of my God and for its watches.
15In those days I saw in Judah those treading winepresses on the Shabbat, and bringing in the heaps, and loading on the donkeys, and also wine, grapes, and figs, and every burden, and bringing them to Jerusalem on the day of the Shabbat; and I warned them on the day they sold provisions.
16And the Tyrians dwelt in it, bringing in fish and every ware, and selling on the Shabbat to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem.
17And I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, and profaning the day of the Shabbat?
18Did not your fathers do thus, and our God brought upon us all this evil, and upon this city? Yet you are adding wrath upon Israel by profaning the Shabbat."
19And it came to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem grew dark before the Shabbat, that I said, and the doors were shut; and I said that they should not be opened until after the Shabbat; and some of my young men I set over the gates, that no burden should come in on the day of the Shabbat.
20And the merchants and sellers of every ware lodged outside Jerusalem once and twice.
21And I warned them and said to them, "Why are you lodging in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will send a hand against you." From that time they did not come on the Shabbat.
22And I said to the Levites that they should purify themselves and come, keeping the gates, to sanctify the day of the Shabbat. Also this, remember for me, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your kindness.
23Also in those days I saw the Jews who had married women (ishah) of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab,
24and their sons spoke half in the Ashdodite language, and they did not know how to speak the language of Judah, but according to the language of each people.
25And I contended with them, and I cursed them, and I struck some men (ish) of them, and I pulled out their hair; and I made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take from their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin concerning these things? And among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet even him the foreign women (ishah) caused to sin.
27And shall it be heard for you to do all this great evil, to act treacherously against our God by settling foreign women (ishah)?"
28And one of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me.
29Remember them, O my God, concerning the defilements of the priesthood, and the covenant (berit) of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30And I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I appointed charges (mishmeret) for the priests and for the Levites, each man (ish) in his work.
31and for the wood-offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember for me, O my God, for good.