16_NEH_13_01 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 ;
16_NEH_13_02 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 .
16_NEH_13_03 now it came to pass , when they had heard the law , that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude .
16_NEH_13_04 And before this , Eliashib the priest , having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God , [ was ] allied unto Tobiah :
16_NEH_13_05 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 .
16_NEH_13_06 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 :
16_NEH_13_07 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 .
16_NEH_13_08 And it grieved me sore : therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber .
16_NEH_13_09 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 .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn And the new wine And the oil unto the treasuries .
16_NEH_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 .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_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 ?
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_20 So the merchants And sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice .
16_NEH_13_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 . from that time forth came they no [ more ] on the sabbath .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_23 in those days also saw I Jews [ that ] had married wives of Ashdod , of Ammon , [ And ] of Moab :
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_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 God , [ saying ] , ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons , nor take their daughters unto your sons , or for yourselves .
16_NEH_13_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 .
16_NEH_13_27 shall we Then hearken unto you to do all this great evil , to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives ?
16_NEH_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 .
16_NEH_13_29 Remember them , O my God , because they have defiled the priesthood , And the covenant of the priesthood , And of the Levites .
16_NEH_13_30 thus cleansed I them from all strangers , And appointed the wards of the priests And the Levites , every one in his business ;
16_NEH_13_31 And for the wood offering , at times appointed , And for the firstfruits . Remember me , O my God , for good .