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.
15
In those days I saw in Judah some treading of wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and loading them on 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 as to the day wherein they sold victuals.
16
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish and all manner of wares, 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, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded that the gates should be shut,and charged that they should not be opened until 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 wares lodged outside 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 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 Thy mercy.
23
In those days also I saw Jews who 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.