| New King James Version | Berean Study 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 aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating 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 had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing). |
| 3So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. | 3As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent. |
| 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, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God |
| 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 for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes 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 Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king |
| 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. | 7to 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 the house of God. |
| 8And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. | 8And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods 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. | 9Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings 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 learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields. |
| 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. | 11So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then 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. | 12and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms. |
| 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 storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites. |
| 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, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion 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. | 15In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into 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. | 16Additionally, men of Tyre who lived 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? | 17Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “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.” | 18Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath 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 the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on 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 will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return 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 as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion. |
| 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 of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. |
| 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 and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them 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 for 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. | 26Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who 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?” | 27Must we now hear that you too are 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. Therefore 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, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. |
| 30Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, | 30Thus I purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I 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 contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor. |
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