13Nehemiah 13

1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,Select Nehemiah 13:1

2because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.Select Nehemiah 13:2

3It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.Select Nehemiah 13:3

4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,Select Nehemiah 13:4

5had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the wave offerings for the priests.Select Nehemiah 13:5

6But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,Select Nehemiah 13:6

7and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God’s house.Select Nehemiah 13:7

8It grieved me severely: therefore I threw all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room.Select Nehemiah 13:8

9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms: and there brought I again the vessels of God’s house, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.Select Nehemiah 13:9

10I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled everyone to his field.Select Nehemiah 13:10

11Then I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is God’s house forsaken?” I gathered them together, and set them in their place.Select Nehemiah 13:11

12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.Select Nehemiah 13:12

13I made treasurers over the 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 business was to distribute to their brothers.Select Nehemiah 13:13

14Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances.Select Nehemiah 13:14

15In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.Select Nehemiah 13:15

16There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.Select Nehemiah 13:16

17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?Select Nehemiah 13:17

18Didn’t your fathers do thus, and didn’t our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”Select Nehemiah 13:18

19It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.Select Nehemiah 13:19

20So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.Select Nehemiah 13:20

21Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath.Select Nehemiah 13:21

22I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.Select Nehemiah 13:22

23In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:Select Nehemiah 13:23

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.Select Nehemiah 13:24

25I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.Select Nehemiah 13:25

26Didn’t Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.Select Nehemiah 13:26

27Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?”Select Nehemiah 13:27

28One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.Select Nehemiah 13:28

29Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.Select Nehemiah 13:29

30Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work;Select Nehemiah 13:30

31and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.Select Nehemiah 13:31