Nehemiah 13

On Nehemiah’s return from Babylon he found that Tobiah had been given a room in the temple courts, the Levites had not received their portions, the Sabbath was being profaned by merchants, and Jews had married foreign women. Nehemiah expelled Tobiah, restored the tithes, shut the gates on the Sabbath, and rebuked those who had intermarried.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	On 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;	On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud to the people. In it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,
2	Because 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.	because they had not met the people of Israel with bread and water but had hired Balaam to curse them — though our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3	Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.	When the people heard this law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4	And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:	Before this, Eliashib the priest, who had been placed in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,
5	And 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.	had prepared for him a large room where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil, which were commanded for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
6	But 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:	While all this was happening I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time I asked leave of the king
7	And 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.	I returned to Jerusalem. I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.
8	And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.	This made me very angry. I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room.
9	Then 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.	I gave orders. They cleansed the rooms. Then I brought back the vessels of the house of God, the grain offering, and the frankincense.
10	And 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.	I also learned that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled each to his own field.
11	Then 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.	So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" I gathered the Levites together and restored them to their posts.
12	Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.	Then all Judah brought the tithe of grain, new wine, and oil to the storehouses.
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.	I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and alongside them Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah. They were considered trustworthy. It was their duty to distribute the portions to their brothers.
14	Remember 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.	Remember me, O my God, for this, and do not blot out my faithful deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for its service.
15	In 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.	In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain, loading it on donkeys — as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads — and bringing them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I warned them against selling food on that day.
16	There 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.	Residents of Tyre who lived there were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in Jerusalem.
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?	So I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath?
18	Did 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.	Did not your ancestors do the same things, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."
19	And 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.	When it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my own servants at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20	So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.	So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21	Then 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. And from that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.	Then I warned them and said to them, "Why are you staying near the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you." From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.
22	And 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.	Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy.
23	In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:	In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24	And 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.	Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and could not speak the language of Judah.
25	And 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.	I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
26	Did 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.	Did not Solomon king of Israel sin in this very way? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God. God made him king over all Israel. Yet even He was led into sin by foreign women.
27	Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?	Must we now hear that you too are doing all this great evil, being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?"
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.	One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me.
29	Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.	Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priests and the Levites.
30	Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;	So I cleansed them from everything foreign and assigned duties to the priests and Levites, each to his own task,
31	And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.	I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.