1
On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was foundwritten in it that noAmmonite or Moabite should everenter the assembly of God,
2
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hiredBalaamagainst them to curse them. However, our Godturned the curse into a blessing.
5
had prepared a largeroom for him, whereformerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oilprescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6
But during allthis time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second*year of Artaxerxesking of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king,
9
Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returnedthere the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.
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 goneaway, each to his own field.
13
In charge of the storehouses I appointedShelemiah 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 consideredreliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen.
15
In thosedays I saw in Judah some who were treadingwinepresses 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 sabbathday. So I admonished them on the day they soldfood.
16
Also men of Tyre were living there who importedfish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem.
18
"Did not your fathersdo the same, so that our Godbrought on us and on thiscityallthistrouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath."
19
It came about that just as it grewdark at the gates of Jerusalembefore the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them untilafter the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that noload would enter on the sabbathday.
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 useforce against you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.
22
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers* to sanctify the sabbathday. For thisalsoremember me, O my God, and havecompassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.
24
As for their children, halfspoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his ownpeople.
25
So I contended with them and cursed them and strucksome of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nortake of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
26
"Did not Solomonking of Israelsinregardingthesethings? Yet among the manynations there was nokinglike him, and he was loved by his God, and Godmade him kingoverallIsrael; nevertheless the foreignwomen caused even him to sin.