Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1At that time the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

1On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

2because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

2for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel.

3As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

4Now before this, the priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah

4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,

5and had prepared a large room for him where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new wine, and fresh oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.

5prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

6While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence

6While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king

7so I could return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of God's house.

7and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household possessions out of the room.

8And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored there, along with the grain offering and frankincense.

9Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

10I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field.

10I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.

11Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.

11So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.

12Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses.

12Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.

13I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the distribution to their colleagues.

13And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers.

14Remember me for this, my God, and don't erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.

14Remember 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 his service.

15At that time I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

15In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food.

16The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

16Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself!

17I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: "What is this evil you are doing--profaning the Sabbath day?

17Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

18Didn't your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling his anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!"

18Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

19When shadows began to fall on the city gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the city gates be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates, so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day.

19As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day.

20Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,

20Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21but I warned them, "Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I'll use force against you." After that they did not come again on the Sabbath.

21But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.

22Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the city gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion according to the abundance of your faithful love.

22Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

23In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

23In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew.

24And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.

25I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before God and said, "You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves!

25And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

26Didn't King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin.

26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.

27Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?"

27Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

28Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the high priest Eliashib, had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me.

28And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.

29Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

29Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.

30Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work;

31I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, with favor.

31and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.