1 At that time the scroll of Moses was read aloud for all the people to hear, and they came upon the written command that no Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly {kahal: gathered community} of God {ha-elohim, Covenant Legislator} forever.
2 Because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam to curse them, yet our God {Eloheinu, Covenant Protector} turned the curse {k'lalá: Spoken Judgment} into a blessing.
3 And it happened, when they heard the law {torah: divine instruction}, that they separated all the mixed multitude {erev: non-Israelite group} from Israel.
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest was appointed over the chamber of the house of our God {Eloheinu, Divine Householder}, and he was allied {karov: associated/related} to Tobiah.
5 And he made for him a large chamber {lishkah: temple storeroom}, and there they formerly laid the grain offering, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe {maasar: designated portion} of grain, the new wine, and the oil—the allotted share for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the contribution for the priests.
6 But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year {shloshim ushtayim: regnal count} of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and at the end of a few days I asked leave {nish’alti: formal leave request} from the king.
7 And I came to Jerusalem, and I learned of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah to make for him a chamber {nishkah: temple chamber} in the courts of the house of God {Elohim, Dwelling Presence}.
8 I was very displeased, and I threw out all the household goods {kelei: utensils or vessels} of Tobiah {Toviyah: “Yahweh is good”} outside the chamber.
9 And I gave the command, and they purified the chambers; then I restored there the vessels of the house of God {Elohim, Holy God} and the grain offering {minchah: tribute gift} and the frankincense.
10 And I knew that the portions {menayot: allocated shares} of the Levites had not been given, and so each of the Levites and the singers {hamshorerim: temple musicians} who did the work fled to his own field.
11 So I contended with the officials {hasganim: governing leaders} and said, “Why is the house of God {haElohim: Sacred Dwelling} forsaken?” Then I gathered them and stationed them at their posts.
12 And all Judah brought the tithe {ma’asar: tenth contribution for temple support} of grain and the new wine and the oil to the storerooms {otzarot: dedicated chambers for sacred provisions}.
13 And I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from among the Levites in charge over the storehouses, and under their supervision {ve-al-yadam: delegated oversight} was Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, because they were considered faithful; and they were to distribute {lachalok: portion out} to their brothers.
14 Remember me for this, my God {Elohai, Covenant Witness}, and do not erase my acts of kindness {khesed: loyal deeds} which I have done in the house of my God and in its services.
15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading grapes in winepresses on the Sabbath {shabbat: weekly rest}. They brought in heaps, loaded them onto donkeys, and carried wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of burden into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, and I warned them on the day of their selling food {tsayid: provisions}.
16 And the Tyrians {hatsorim: traders from Tyre} lived there, bringing in fish {dag: aquatic food} and all kinds of merchandise, and they were selling on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem.
17 And I contended {arivah: forceful dispute} with the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing in profaning {mechallelim: ritual defilement} the Sabbath day?”
18 Is it not thus that your fathers acted, and our God {Eloheinu, Just Judge} brought all this calamity upon us and upon this city? Yet you are adding wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath {Shabbat: sacred rest day}.
19 When evening shadows fell at the gates {sha'arim: entry points} of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be closed, and I commanded that they must not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my young men at the gates, so that no burden {masa: trade load} would be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 The merchants {rokhlim: professional traders} and sellers {mokhrei: market vendors} of all merchandise lodged outside Jerusalem once and twice.
21 And I warned them and said to them, “Why are you lodging opposite the wall? If you do this again, I will send a hand {yad: disciplinary authority} against you.” From that time they did not come on the Sabbath {shabbat: sacred day of rest}.
22 And I said to the Levites that they should purify themselves and come to guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Also this, remember me, my God {Elohai, Covenant Faithfulness}, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of your mercy {khesed: steadfast lovingkindness}.
23 Also, in those days, I saw the Jews {yehudim: descendants of Judah} who had married Ashdodite {ashdodiyot: Philistine city inhabitants}, Ammonite, and Moabite women.
24 Half of their children spoke Ashdodite {ashdodit: dialect of Ashdod}, and they did not know how to speak Judean, but according to the language of each people {am: ethnic group}.
25 And I contended with them and cursed them, and I struck some of the men and pulled out their hair {va’emartem: I pulled hair}, and made them swear by God {Elohim, Supreme Judge}, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.”
26 Was it not because of these things that Solomon, king of Israel, sinned? And among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God {Elohim, Divine Benefactor}; and God made him king over all Israel, yet the foreign women {nashim: wives} caused him to sin.
27 Is it to be heard of you that you are doing all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God {Eloheinu, Covenant Guardian} by bringing in foreign women {nokhriyot: non-Israelite}?
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest {ha-gadol: chief religious leader}, was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away {va-avrichehu: expelled him from presence} from me.
29 Remember them, O my God {Elohai, Covenant Upholder}, for they have defiled {ga’olei: ritual polluters} the priesthood, the covenant of the priesthood, and the Levites.
30 And I purified them from all foreignness, and I appointed watches for the priests {kohenim: priestly servants} and for the Levites, each man in his task {melakhah: assigned duty}.
31 And for the wood offering at appointed times and for the firstfruits, remember me, my God {Elohai, Covenant Witness}, for good {letovah: my well-being}.