| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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 come into the assembly of God, | 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, |
| 2because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. | 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. |
| 3So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. | 3When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. |
| 4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. | 4Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah |
| 5And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests. | 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 oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests. |
| 6But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, | 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 |
| 7and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. | 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. |
| 8And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. | 8I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household possessions out of the room. |
| 9Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. | 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. |
| 10I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. | 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. |
| 11So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place. | 11Therefore, I rebuked the officials, saying, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts. |
| 12Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. | 12Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses. |
| 13And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse 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 considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren. | 13I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, 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. |
| 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 its services! | 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. |
| 15In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions. | 15At that time I saw people in Judah treading wine presses 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. |
| 16Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. | 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. |
| 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? | 17I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: "What is this evil you are doing--profaning the Sabbath day? |
| 18Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” | 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!" |
| 19So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. | 19When shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the 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. |
| 20Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. | 20Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, |
| 21Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. | 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. |
| 22And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy! | 22Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion in keeping with Your abundant, faithful love. |
| 23In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. | 23In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. |
| 24And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. | 24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew. |
| 25So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. | 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! |
| 26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. | 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. |
| 27Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?” | 27Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?" |
| 28And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me. | 28Even one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me. |
| 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. | 29Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. |
| 30Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, | 30So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. |
| 31and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good! | 31I also arranged for the donation of wood at the appointed times and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, with favor. |
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