1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing {audience} of the people; and in it {therein} was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever, 2Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4And before this, Eliashib, the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah; 5And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously {aforetime} they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king. 7And I came to Jerusalem, and discovered {understood of} the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8And it grieved me very much {sore}; therefore, I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and there {thither} brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offering and the frankincense.

10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; for the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had {were} fled every one to his field. 11Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil unto the storehouses {treasuries}. 13And I made treasurers over the storehouses {treasuries}: 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 counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 14Remember 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 its offices {thereof}.

15In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain {sheaves}, and loading {lading} asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds {manner} of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold provisions {victuals}. 16There dwelt men of Tyre also in the city {therein}, who brought fish, and all kinds {manner} of wares, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18Did 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. 19And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath; and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye before {about} the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 22And 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.

23In those days also saw I Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24And 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. 25And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, even him did foreign {outlandish} women cause to sin. 27Shall we, then, hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign {strange} women {wives}?

28And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat, the Horonite; therefore I drove {chased} him away from me. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed the duties {prisons} of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.