JPS - Nehemiah - 13

13:1  On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of G-d for ever;

13:2  because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; howbeit our G-d turned the curse into a blessing.

13:3  And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the alien mixture.

13:4  Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our G-d, being allied unto Tobiah,

13:5  had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests.

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

13:7  and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of G-d.

13:8  And it grieved me sore; therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

13:9  Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of G-d, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense.

13:10  And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

13:11  Then contended I with the rulers, and said: 'Why is the house of G-d forsaken?' And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

13:12  Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13:13  And 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.

13:14  Remember me, O my G-d, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my G-d, and for the wards thereof.

13:15  In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of corn, and lading asses therewith; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I forewarned them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

13:16  There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

13:17  Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them: 'What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

13:18  Did not your fathers thus, and did not our G-d bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.'

13:19  And it 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 till after the sabbath; and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

13:20  So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

13:21  Then I forewarned 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.

13:22  And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my G-d, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.

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

13:24  and 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.

13:25  And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by G-d: 'Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

13:26  Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his G-d, and G-d made him king over all Israel; nevertheless even him did the foreign women cause to sin.

13:27  Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to break faith with our G-d in marrying foreign women?'

13:28  And 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.

13:29  Remember them, O my G-d, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

13:30  Thus cleansed I them from everything foreign, and appointed wards for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work;

13:31  and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my G-d, for good.