13 On that day a†they read in the book of Moses in the †audience of the people; and therein was found written, bthat the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but chired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: dhowbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, ethat they separated from Israel all fthe mixed multitude.

4 And before this, gEliashib the priest, †having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto hTobiah: 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, iwhere 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 the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6 *But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the ktwo and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes lking of Babylon came I unto the king, and †after certain days ||obtained I leave of the king: 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that gEliashib did for hTobiah, min preparing him na chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they ocleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again mthe vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that pthe portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to qhis field. 11 Then rcontended I with the rulers, and said, Why is sthe house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their †place. 12 Then brought all Judah tthe tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the ||treasuries. 13 And uI made treasurers over the ||treasuries, xShelemiah the priest, and yZadok the scribe, and of the Levites, zPedaiah: and †next to them was aHanan the son of bZaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted cfaithful, and †their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 dRemember 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 the ||offices thereof.

15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses eon the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, fwhich they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified gagainst them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of hTyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then iI contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 kDid 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. 19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem lbegan 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 some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye †about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should mcleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, nconcerning this also, and spare me according to the ||greatness of thy mercy.

23 *In those days also saw I Jews that †ohad married wives of pAshdod, of qAmmon, and of qMoab: 24 And their children spake half in the speech of pAshdod, and †could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language †of each people. 25 And I rcontended with them, and ||cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and smade them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26 tDid not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet uamong many nations was there no king like him, xwho was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to ytransgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the sons zof Joiada, the son of aEliashib the high priest, was son in law to bSanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29 cRemember them, O my God, †because they have defiled the priesthood, and dthe covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30 Thus ecleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for fthe wood offering, gat times appointed, and for the firstfruits. hRemember me, O my God, for good.