ABP - Nehemiah - 13

13:1  In that day they read in the scroll of Moses into the ears of the people. And it was found written in it how that [4should not 5enter 1the Ammonite 2and 3Moabite] into the assembly of God unto the eon.

13:2  For they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, and they hired against them Balaam to curse them. And [2turned 1our God] the curse into a blessing.

13:3  And it came to pass as they heard the law, that they separated all the intermixed in Israel.

13:4  And before this Eliashib the priest lived in the treasury of the house of our God, near Tobiah.

13:5  And he made for him [2treasury 1a great], and there they were formerly giving the sacrifice offering, and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tenth of the grain, and of the wine, and of the olive oil, a commandment of the Levites, and of the singers, and of the gatekeepers, and the first-fruits of the priests.

13:6  And during all this I was not in Jerusalem. For in [4year 1the thirtieth 2and 3second] of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king, and after the end of the days I asked things of the king.

13:7  And I came into Jerusalem, and I perceived the wickedness which Eliashib did for Tobiah, to make for him a treasury in the courtyard of the house of God.

13:8  And [3wicked 4to me 1it appeared 2exceedingly], and I tossed all the items of the house of Tobiah outside of the treasury.

13:9  And I spoke, and they cleansed the treasuries. And I returned there the vessels of the house of God for the sacrifice offering and the frankincense.

13:10  And I knew that the portions of the Levites were not given them; and [2fled 1every man] unto his own field, the Levites and the singers, and ones doing the work.

13:11  And I quarreled with the commandants, and said, Why did it abandon the house of God? And I gathered them, and set them at their station.

13:12  And all Judah brought a tenth of the wheat and of the wine and of the olive oil into the treasuries.

13:13  And I gave charge unto the hand of Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and near their hand was Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah. For [2trustworthy 1they were considered], as it was upon them to portion out to their brethren.

13:14  Remember me, O God, in this! that [2should not be wiped away 1my acts of mercy], which I did in the house of the lord my God, and in his watches.

13:15  In those days I beheld in Judah ones treading the wine vats on the Sabbath, and bringing sheaves, and loading upon the donkeys; even wine, and the grape cluster, and figs, and every burden, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath. And I attested to them in the day of their sale.

13:16  For [4sold 5provision 1even 2the ones 3of Tyre], and sat by it bringing fish, and [2every item 3for sale 1selling] on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

13:17  And I quarreled with the free men of Judah, and I said to them, What is [3matter 1this 2wicked] which you do, and profane the day of the Sabbath?

13:18  Did not [3thus 2do 1your fathers], and [2brought 3upon 4them 1our God] and upon us all these evils, even upon this city? And you add to the anger upon Israel to profane the Sabbath.

13:19  And it came to pass when [2were stood 1the gates] in Jerusalem before the Sabbath, that I spoke, and they locked the gates. And I spoke so as to not open them until after the Sabbath. And [2some of 3my young men 1I stood] at the gates, so as to not lift burdens on the day of the Sabbath.

13:20  And [4lodged 1all 2the 3traders] and did business outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

13:21  And I testified to them, and I said to them, Why do you lodge before the wall? If you repeat it a second time, I will stretch out my hand against you. From that time they did not come on the Sabbath.

13:22  And I spoke to the Levites who were being cleansed, and the ones coming guarding the gates to sanctify the day of the Sabbath. For these things remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the magnitude of your mercy!

13:23  And in those days I saw the Jews who settled with wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and Moab.

13:24  And their sons [2half 1were speaking] Ashdodish, and are not knowing to speak Jewish, but spoke according to the language of this people and that people.

13:25  And I quarreled with them, and cursed them, and I struck some of their men, and I plucked their hair, and I bound them to an oath by God, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, and you shall not indeed take of their daughters for your sons, and to yourselves.

13:26  Did not [4thus 5sin 1Solomon 2king 3of Israel]? and among [2nations 1many] there was not a king likened to him, and [2one being loved 3by God 1he was], and [2appointed 3him 1God] as king over all Israel, and in this [4turned him aside 1the 3wives 2alien].

13:27  So [3with you 1should we not 2hearken] to do this wickedness, to break contract with our God, and to settle with [2wives 1alien]?

13:28  And from the sons of Joiada, Eliashib the [2priest 1great], in-law to Sanballat the Horonite -- even I threw him from me.

13:29  Remember them, O my God, for they were against the right of inheritance of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites!

13:30  And I cleansed them from all alien connection, and I set the daily rotations for the priests and for the Levites, every man according to his work;

13:31  even for the gift of the wood offerings in seasons, from times, and in the first produce. Remember me, O our God, for goodness!