| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Later that day the book of Moses was read aloud so the people could hear it, and a written command was discovered therein permanently prohibiting the Ammonites and Moabites from coming into the congregation 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 did not greet the Israelis with food and water, but instead hired Balaam to oppose them by cursing them, even though 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. |
| 3When they heard the Law, they separated all those of foreign descent from Israel. | 3When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. |
| 4Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who supervised the store rooms of the Temple of our God and who was related to 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 |
| 5had prepared a great chamber for him, in the place where they used to place the grain offerings, incense, and vessels, along with the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that was mandated for the descendants of Levi, the singers, the gate keepers, and the priests' offerings. | 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. |
| 6During all of this time, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to the king in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon. After a while I obtained permission 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 |
| 7to return to Jerusalem. I learned of the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in furnishing him with a room in the courts of the Temple 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. |
| 8I was greatly upset, so I threw out all of Tobiah's property from the room. | 8I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household possessions out of the room. |
| 9I ordered them to purify the chambers, and then they brought back the vessels from the Temple of God, along with the grain offerings and incense. | 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 learned that the allotments for the descendants of Levi had not been distributed. As a result, the descendants of Levi and singers who were responsible for the service had each left to go back to their fields. | 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 confronted the officials and asked, "Why is the Temple of God neglected?" Then I gathered them together and put them back in their places. | 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 of Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil into the storerooms. | 12Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses. |
| 13I appointed over the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the descendants of Levi; and next to them Zaccur's son Hanan, the grandson of Mattaniah, because they had been considered faithful. Their duties were to distribute to their associates. | 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, my God, concerning this, and do not erase my faithful deeds that I have undertaken for the Temple 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. |
| 15At that time I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the Sabbath, bringing in sacks of grain, loading them onto donkeys, along with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads. They brought them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I rebuked them on the day on which they were selling food. | 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. |
| 16Furthermore, Tyrians were living there who were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise, selling them to the people of Judah on the Sabbath, even 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. |
| 17I rebuked the officials of Judah, saying to them, "What's this evil thing that you're doing by profaning the Sabbath day? | 17I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: "What is this evil you are doing--profaning the Sabbath day? |
| 18Didn't your ancestors do the same? And didn't our God bring on us and on this city all of this trouble? Now you're adding to the wrath against 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!" |
| 19As the Sabbath approached and it began to get dark at the gates of Jerusalem, I gave word to shut the gates, charging that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my men at the gates to ensure that no loads 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. |
| 20As a result, the merchants and sellers of all sorts of goods remained outside Jerusalem a couple of times. | 20Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, |
| 21I argued with them, "Why are you staying outside the wall? If you do this again, I'll arrest you." From that time on, they didn't come anymore 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. |
| 22Then I commanded the descendants of Levi to purify themselves and to come as gate keepers to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, my God, and show mercy to me according to the greatness of your gracious love. | 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. |
| 23At that time I also noticed that Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. | 23In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. |
| 24Furthermore, their children spoke half of the time in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Judah. Instead, they spoke in the languages of various peoples. | 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 rebuked them, cursed them, struck some of their men, tore out their hair, and made them take this oath in the name of God: "You are not to give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons or for 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! |
| 26Didn't Solomon, king of Israel, sin by doing these things, even though among many nations there was no king like him who was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel? Even so, foreign women caused 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 listen to you and do all of this terrible evil by transgressing against our God to marry foreign wives?" | 27Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?" |
| 28One of the sons of Eliashib the high priest's son Joiada was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away 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, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the descendants of Levi. | 29Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. |
| 30I purified them from everything foreign, arranged duties for the priests and the descendants of Levi, each to his task, | 30So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. |
| 31and I arranged at the appointed time for the supply of wood, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, with favor. | 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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