Nehemiah, Chapter 13

1. On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;    2. Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.    3. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.    4. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah:    5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the food offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the offerings of the priests.    6. But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem: for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of the king:    7. And I came to Jerusalem, and learned of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.    8. And it grieved me much: therefore I threw away all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.    9. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the food offering and the frankincense.    10. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled every one to his field.    11. Then 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.    12. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.    13. And I appointed 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 office was to distribute to their brethren.    14. Remember 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 the offices thereof.    15. In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; 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 in which they sold food.    16. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of merchandise, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.    17. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the sabbath day?    18. Did not your fathers do thus, 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.    19. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and directed that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants I set at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.    20. So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of merchandise lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.    21. Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do you lodge before the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time on they came no more on the sabbath.    22. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.    23. In those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:    24. And 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.    25. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain 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.    26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.    27. Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?    28. And 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.    29. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.    30. Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and assigned the duties of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;    31. And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.