| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; | 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 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. | 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. |
| 3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. | 3When they heard the law, they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel. |
| 4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto 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 great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, 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. | 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 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: | 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 understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber 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 sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. | 8I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah's household possessions out of the room. |
| 9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat 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. |
| 10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one 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. |
| 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. | 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 brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. | 12Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses. |
| 13And I 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 office was to distribute unto 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 wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. | 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 saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. | 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. |
| 16There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto 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 unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and 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 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. | 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!" |
| 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. | 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. |
| 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. | 20Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, |
| 21Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye 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. | 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 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. | 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 also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: | 23In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. |
| 24And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. | 24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples but could not speak Hebrew. |
| 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. | 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 was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause 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. |
| 27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? | 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 son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased 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 of the Levites. | 29Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood as well as the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. |
| 30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; | 30So I purified them from everything foreign and assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites. |
| 31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. 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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