1
On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
~'['ht05971 yen.z'a.B h,v{mt04872 r,pes.Bt05612 a'r.qint07121 a.Wh;h ~w{Y;Bt03117 ? yin{M;[t05984 aw{b'yt0935 -a{l r,v]a w{B b.Wt'K a'c.min.wt04672 ? ~'lw{[t05769 -d;[t05704 ~yih{l/a'ht0430 l;h.qiBt06951 yib'a{m.Wt04125
2
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
~Iy'M;b.Wt04325 ~,x,L;Bt03899 lea'r.fIyt03478 yen.B -t,a .Wm.Diq a{l yiK ? .${p]h;Y;wt02015 w{l.l;q.lt07043 ~'[.liBt01109 -t,a wy'l'[ r{K.fiY;w ? h'k'r.bilt01293 h'l'l.Q;ht07045 .Wnyeh{l/a
3
So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel.
b,re[t06154 -l'k .WlyiD.b;Y;w h'rw{T;ht08451 -t,a ~'[.m'v.Kt08085 yih.y;w ? lea'r.fiYimt03478
4
Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah,
t;K.vil.Bt0475 !.Wt'n !eh{K;ht03548 byiv'y.l,a h,Zim yen.pil.wt06440 ? h'Yibw{j.lt02900 bw{r'qt07138 .Wnyeh{l/at0430 -tyeBt01004
5
had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
~yin'p.lt06440 .Wy'h ~'v.w h'lw{d.gt01419 h'K.vilt03957 w{l f;[;Y;w ? r;f.[;m.Wt04643 ~yileK;h.wt03627 h'nw{b.L;ht03828 h'x.niM;ht04503 -t,a ~yin.t{n ? ~yir.r{v.m;h.w ~iYiw.l;ht03881 t;w.cim r'h.ciY;h.wt03323 vw{ryiT;h !'g'D;h ? ~yin]h{K;h t;m.Wr.t.Wt08641 ~yir][{V;h.w
6
But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second * year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king,
t;n.viB yiK ~i'l'v.WryiBt03389 yityIy'h a{l h,z -l'k.b.W ? l,b'Bt0894 -.k,l,m ]a.T.s;v.x;T.r;a.l ~Iy;T.v.W ~yiv{l.vt07970 ? yiT.l;a.vint07592 ~yim'y #eq.l.Wt07093 .$,l,M;ht04428 -l,a yita'B ? .$,l,M;ht04428 -nim
7
and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
h'f'[t06213 r,v]a h'['r'bt07451 h'nyib'a'w ~i'l'v.Wryilt03389 aw{b'a'wt0935 ? yer.c;x.Bt02691 h'K.vint05393 w{l tw{f][;l h'Yibw{j.lt02900 byiv'y.l,at0475 ? ~yih{l/a'ht0430 tyeBt01004
8
It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room.
yel.Kt03627 -l'K -t,a h'kyil.v;a'w d{a.mt03966 yil [;reY;wt03415 ? h'K.viL;ht03957 -nim #.Wx;ht02351 h'Yibw{jt02900 -tyebt01004
9
Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.
yel.Kt03627 ~'V h'byiv'a'w tw{k'v.L;h .Wr]h;j.y;wt02891 h'r.m{a'wt0559 ? h'nw{b.L;h.wt03828 h'x.niM;ht04503 -t,a ~yih{l/a'ht0430 tyeBt01004
10
I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field.
.Wx.r.biY;wt01272 h'n'Tint04521 a{l ~iYiw.l;ht03881 ]tw{y'n.mt05414 -yiK h'[.dea'wt03045 ? h'ka'l.M;ht04399 yef{[ ~yir.r{v.m;h.w ~iYiw.l;ht03881 .Whed'f.l -vyiat0376
11
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.
b;z/[,nt05800 ;[.WD;m h'r.m{a'wt0559 ~yin'g.S;h -t,a h'byir'a'wt07378 ? ~'d.m'[t05975 -l;[ ~edim][;a'wt05977 ]mec.B.q,a'w ~yih{l/a'ht0430 -tyeBt01004
12
All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.
vw{ryiT;h.w !'g'D;h r;f.[;mt04643 .Wayibeh h'd.Wh.yt03063 -l'k.w ? tw{r'cw{a'lt0214 r'h.ciY;h.wt03323
13
In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition * to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen.
qw{d'c.wt06659 !eh{K;ht03548 h'y.m,l,vt08018 tw{r'cw{at0214 -l;[ h'r.cw{a'w ? ~'d'yt03027 -l;[.w ~iYiw.l;ht03881 -nim h'y'd.p.Wt06305 repw{S;h ? ~yin'm/a,n yiK h'y.n;T;mt04983 -n,B r.WK;zt02139 -n,B !'n'x ? ~,hyex]a;lt0251 q{l]x;lt02505 ~,hyel][;w .Wb'v.x,nt01121
14
Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.
x;m,T -l;a.w ta{z -l;[ y;h{l/a yiL -h'r.k'zt02142 ? wy'r'm.vim.b.Wt04929 y;h{l/a tyeb.Bt01004 yityif'[ r,v]a y;d's]xt02617
15
In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food.
]tw{TiGt01660 -myik.r{D h'd.Whyibt03063 yityia'r h'Meh'ht06194 ~yim'Y;B ? ~yir{m]x;h -l;[ ~yis.m{[.wt06006 tw{mer]['h ~yiayib.m.W t'B;V;Bt07676 ? a'F;mt04853 -l'k.w ~yinea.t.W ~yib'n][t06025 !Iy;y -p;a.w ? dyi['a'w t'B;V;ht07676 ~w{y.B ~i;l'v.Wr.yt03389 ~yiayib.m.W ? dIy'ct06718 ~'r.kimt04376 ~w{y.B
16
Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem.
r,k,mt04377 -l'k.w ga'Dt01709 ~yiayib.m H'b .Wb.v'yt03427 ~yir{C;h.wt06876 ? ~i'l'v.Wryib.Wt03389 h'd.Wh.yt03063 yen.bil t'B;V;Bt07676 ~yir.k{m.Wt04376
17
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day?
r'b'D;ht01697 -h'm ~,h'l h'r.m{a'wt0559 h'd.Wh.yt03063 yer{xt02715 tea h'byir'a'wt07378 ? ~w{yt03117 -t,a ~yil.L;x.m.Wt02490 ~yif{[ ~,T;a r,v]a h,Z;h ['r'ht07451 ? t'B;V;ht07676
18
"Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath."
.Wnyeh{l/at0430 aeb'Y;w ~,kyet{b]at01 .Wf'[ h{k aw{l]h ? ryi['ht05892 l;[.w ta{Z;h h'['r'ht07451 -l'K tea .Wnyel'[ ? lea'r.fIyt03478 -l;[ !w{r'xt02740 ~yipyisw{m ~,T;a.w ta{Z;h ? t'B;V;ht07676 -t,a leL;x.lt02490
19
It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.
yen.pilt06440 ~i;l'v.Wr.yt03389 yer][;vt08179 .Wl]l'ct06751 r,v]a;K yih.y;w ? h'r.m{a'wt0559 tw{t'l.D;ht01817 .Wr.g'SiY;wt05462 h'r.m{a'wt0559 t'B;V;ht07676 ? y;r'[.Nim.Wt05288 t'B;V;ht07676 r;x;at0310 d;[ ~.Wx'T.pIyt06605 a{l r,v]a ? a'F;m aw{b'yt0935 -a{l ~yir'[.V;ht08179 -l;[ yiT.d;m/[,ht05975 ? t'B;V;ht07676 ~w{y.Bt03117
20
Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside * Jerusalem.
#.Wximt02351 r'K.mimt04376 -l'k yer.k{m.Wt04465 ~yil.k{r'ht07402 .Wnyil'Y;wt03389 ? ~Iy'T.v.W ~;[;Pt06471 ~i'l'v.Wryil
21
Then I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.
~,T;a ;[.WD;mt05749 ~,hyel]a h'r.m{a'wt0559 ~,h'b h'dyi['a'wt03027 ? x;l.v,at07971 d'y .Wn.viT -mia h'mw{x;ht02346 d,g,nt05048 ~yinel ? t'B;V;Bt07676 .Wa'bt0935 -a{l ayih;h te['ht06256 -nim ~,k'B
22
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers * to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.
~yia'b.Wt0935 ~yir]h;Jimt02891 .Wy.hIyt0430 r,v]a ~iYiw.l;lt03881 h'r.m{a'wt0559 ? t'B;V;ht07676 ~w{yt03117 -t,a veD;q.lt06942 ~yir'[.V;ht08179 ~yir.m{vt08104 ? y;l'[ h's.Wx.wt02347 y;h{l/a yiL -h'r.k'zt02142 ta{z -m;G ? '$,D.s;xt02617 b{r.Kt07230
23
In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.
~yid.Wh.Y;ht03064 -t,a yityia'r ~eh'h ~yim'Y;Bt05984 ~;G ? tw{Yib]aw{mt04125 tw{Yinw{M;[ tw{Yidw{D.v;at0796 ~yiv'n .Wbyiv{h
24
As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.
~yiryiK;m ~'nyea.w tyidw{D.v;at03066 reB;d.mt01696 yic]xt02677 ~,hyen.b.W ? ~'['wt05971 ~;[t05971 !w{v.lik.w tyid.Wh.y reB;d.lt01696
25
So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
~yiv'n]at0582 ~,hem h,K;a'w ~el.l;q]a'wt07043 ~'Mi[ byir'a'wt07378 ? .Wn.TiT -mia ~yih{laeBt0430 ~e[yiB.v;a'w ~ej.r.m,a'wt04803 ? ~,hyet{n.Bim .Wa.fiT -mia.w ~,hyen.bil ~,kyet{n.b ? ~,k'l.w ~,kyen.bil
26
"Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.
lea'r.fIyt03478 .$,l,mt04428 h{m{l.vt08010 -a'j'xt02398 h,Lea -l;[ aw{l]h ? b.Wh'a.w .Wh{m'K .$,l,mt04428 h'y'h -a{l ~yiB;r'ht07227 ~Iyw{G;b.Wt01471 ? -l'K -l;[ .$,l,mt04428 ~yih{l/at0430 .When.TiY;w h'y'h wy'h{lael ? tw{Yir.k'N;ht05237 ~yiv'N;h .Wayij/x,h w{tw{a -m;G lea'r.fIyt03478
27
"Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?"
h'lw{d.G;ht01419 h'['r'ht07451 -l'K tea t{f][;l [;m.vin]ht08085 ~,k'l.w ? tw{Yir.k'nt05237 ~yiv'n byiv{h.l .Wnyeh{laeB l{[.milt04603 ta{Z;h
28
Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me.
lw{d'G;ht01419 !eh{K;ht03548 byiv'y.l,at0475 -n,B ['d'yw{yt03111 yen.Bim.W ? y'l'[em .Whexyir.b;a'w yin{r{x;ht02772 j;L;b.n;s.lt05571 !'t'x
29
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
tyir.b.Wt01285 h'NUh.K;ht03550 yel\a'Gt01352 l;[ y'h{l/a ~,h'l h'r.k'zt02142 ? ~iYiw.l;h.wt03881 h'NUh.K;ht03550
30
Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task,
tw{r'm.vimt04931 h'dyim][;a'w r'kent05236 -l'Kimt04399 ~yiT.r;hij.wt02891 ? w{T.ka;l.miB vyiat0376 ~iYiw.l;l.wt03881 ~yin]h{K;l
31
and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
]myir.WKiB;l.w tw{n'MUz.m ~yiTi[.Bt06256 ~yice['h !;B.rUq.l.W ? h'bw{j.l y;h{l/a yiL -h'r.k'zt02142