Nehemiah 13

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

1On that day, the book of Moses was read out loud to the people. They found it written there that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be allowed into the assembly of God,

2because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

2because they had not met the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam to call down a curse on them, though our God turned that curse into a blessing.

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

3As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded everyone of foreign descent from Israel.

4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,

4Before this happened, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. Because he was related to Tobiah,

5had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests.

5he had provided Tobiah with a large room. Previously, this room was used to store grain offerings, incense, temple equipment, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and olive oil—which were assigned to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers—along with the contributions for the priests.

6But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,

6I was not in Jerusalem while all this was happening. In the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, the king of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. After some time, I asked for his permission to leave again.

7and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

7When I returned to Jerusalem, I discovered the evil thing Eliashib had done by providing a room for Tobiah in the courtyards of the house of God.

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

8I was very angry. I threw all of Tobiah’s household furniture out of the room.

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

9I gave orders for the rooms to be purified. Then I brought back the equipment of the house of God, along with the grain offerings and the incense.

10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

10I also learned that the portions meant for the Levites had not been given to them. As a result, the Levites and the singers who performed the service had all gone back to work their own fields.

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

11I confronted the officials and asked, 'Why is the house of God being neglected?' Then I brought the Levites and singers back together and put them back at their posts.

12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

12Then all the people of Judah brought the tenths of their grain, new wine, and olive oil into the storerooms.

13And 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 counted faithful, and their business was to distribute unto their brethren.

13I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms. I appointed Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, to assist them. These men were considered reliable, and their job was to distribute the supplies to their fellow workers.

14Remember 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 observances thereof.

14Remember me for this, my God, and do not forget the faithful things I have done for the house of my God and its services.

15In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses therewith; 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 wherein they sold victuals.

15In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were bringing in stacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads. They were bringing these into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

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

16Men from Tyre who lived in the city were also bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise. They were selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, even in Jerusalem. Ontario.

17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

17I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, 'What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?'

18Did 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.

18'Didn't your ancestors do the same thing? Because of them, our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city. Now you are bringing even more anger on Israel by breaking the Sabbath!'

19And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

19When the shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut. I commanded that they should not be opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own servants at the gates so that no loads could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

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

20Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.

21Then 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.

21But I warned them and said, 'Why are you camping by the wall? If you do it again, I will arrest you.' From then on, they did not come anymore on the Sabbath.

22And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness.

22Then I told the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and show me mercy according to your great, loyal love.

23In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof Moab:

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

24and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.

24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of the other people groups; they did not know how to speak the language of Judah.

25And 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 unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

25I confronted them and called down curses on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name, saying, 'Do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.'

26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.

26'Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet even he was led into sin by foreign women.'

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

27'Must we now hear that you are doing this same great evil and being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?'

28And 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.

28One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. So I chased him away from me.

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

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

30Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work;

30So I purified the priests and the Levites from everything foreign. I assigned each person their specific duties and jobs.

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

31I also made sure that wood was provided at the set times and that the first part of the harvest was brought in. Remember me, my God, with favor.