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; [they...: Heb. there was read] [audience: Heb. ears]
			2	Because they met# not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired# Balaam against them, that he should curse# them: howbeit 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 unto Tobiah: [having...: Heb. being set over]
			5	And he had prepared# for him a great 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 the Levites, and the singers# , and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. [which...: Heb. the commandment of the Levites]
			6	But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came# I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave# of the king: [after...: Heb. at the end of days] [obtained...: or, I earnestly requested]
			7	And I came# to Jerusalem, and understood# 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 sore: therefore I cast forth# all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
			9	Then I commanded# , and they cleansed# the chambers: and thither brought I again# the vessels of the house of God, with the meat 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, were fled# every one to his field.
			11	Then 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. [place: Heb. standing]
			12	Then brought# all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. [treasuries: or, storehouses]
			13	And 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 office was to distribute# unto their brethren. [treasuries: or, storehouses] [next...: Heb. at their hand] [their office...: Heb. it was upon them]
			14	Remember# 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. [good...: Heb. kindnesses] [offices: or, observations]
			15	In those days saw# I in Judah some treading# wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in# sheaves, and lading# asses; 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.
			16	There dwelt# men of Tyre 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 I contended# with the nobles of Judah, and said# unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do# , and profane# the sabbath day?
			18	Did# 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 began 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. [about: Heb. before]
			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 thy mercy. [greatness: or, multitude]
			23	In those days also saw# I Jews that had married# wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: [had...: Heb. had made to dwell with them]
			24	And 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. [could...: Heb. they discerned not to speak] [of each...: Heb. of people and people]
			25	And 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 unto your sons, or for yourselves. [cursed: or, reviled]
			26	Did not Solomon king of Israel sin# by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who 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 transgress# against our God in marrying# strange 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. [because...: Heb. for the defilings]
			30	Thus cleansed# I them from all strangers, and appointed# the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
			31	And for the wood offering, at times appointed# , and for the firstfruits. Remember# me, O my God, for good.