1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, 2because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3And it happened, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, 5had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously 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 gatekeepers; and the heave-offerings for the priests. 6But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after some days I asked leave of the king, 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. 8And it grieved me greatly: therefore I cast forth all the household goods of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense. 10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled every one to his field. 11Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. 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 to their brothers. 14Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances. 15In those days I saw in Judah some men treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with them; 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 on the day in which they sold provisions. 16Men of Tyre also dwelt there, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the sabbath day? 18Did not your fathers do so, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19And it happened 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 I set over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do you lodge around the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more 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 to me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your lovingkindness. 23In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24and 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. 25And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck some of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin. 27Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in 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. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work; 31and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.