¶ On that day¹ they read² in the book of Moses in the audience³ of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite⁴ should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

Because⁵ they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam⁶ against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God⁷ turned the curse into a blessing.

Now it came to pass, when they⁸ had heard the law, that they⁹ separated from Israel all the mixed¹⁰ multitude.

And before this, Eliashib¹¹ the priest, having the oversight of¹² the chamber of the house of our God, was allied¹³ unto Tobiah:

And he had prepared for him a great¹⁴ chamber, where aforetime 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 the¹⁵ Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

But¹⁶ in all this time was¹⁷ not I at Jerusalem: for in the two¹⁸ and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days¹⁹ obtained I²⁰ leave of the king:

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood²¹ of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing²² him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

And it grieved²³ me sore: therefore I cast²⁴ forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed²⁵ the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

¶ And I perceived that the portions²⁶ of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field²⁷.

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house²⁹ of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place³⁰.

Then brought³¹ all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries³².

And I made³³ treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah³⁴ the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah³⁵: and next to them³⁶ was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah³⁷: for they were counted³⁸ faithful, and their office³⁹ was to distribute unto their brethren.

Remember me,⁴⁰ O my God, concerning this, and wipe not⁴¹ out my good deeds⁴² that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices⁴³ thereof.

¶ In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine⁴⁴ presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens⁴⁵, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified⁴⁶ against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

There dwelt men of Tyre⁴⁷ also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

Then I contended⁴⁸ with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Did not your⁴⁹ fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more⁵⁰ wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be⁵¹ dark before the sabbath, I commanded⁵² that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

¶ So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Then I testified⁵³ against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall⁵⁴? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

And I commanded⁵⁵ the Levites that they should cleanse⁵⁶ themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify⁵⁷ the sabbath day. Remember⁵⁸ me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me⁵⁹ according to the greatness⁶⁰ of thy mercy.

¶ In those days also saw I Jews that had married⁶¹ wives of Ashdod⁶², of Ammon⁶³, and of Moab:

And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak⁶⁴ in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

And I contended⁶⁵ with them, and cursed⁶⁶ them, and smote⁶⁷ certain of them, and plucked⁶⁸ off their hair, and made them⁶⁹ swear by God, saying, Ye shall not⁷⁰ give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

Did not Solomon⁷¹ king of Israel sin by these things? yet among⁷² many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved⁷³ of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Shall we then⁷⁴ hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress⁷⁵ against our God in marrying strange wives?

And one⁷⁶ of the sons of Joiada⁷⁷, the son of Eliashib⁷⁸ the high priest, was son in law⁷⁹ to Sanballat⁸⁰ the Horonite: therefore I chased⁸¹ him from me.

Remember⁸² them, O my God, because they have defiled⁸³ the priesthood, and the covenant⁸⁴ of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

¶ Thus cleansed⁸⁵ I them from all strangers, and appointed⁸⁶ the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

And for the wood⁸⁷ offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember⁸⁸ me, O my God, for good.