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; |
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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. |
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3:
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they
separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. |
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4: And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of
the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: |
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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8: And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the
household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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12: Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine
and the oil unto the treasuries. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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?
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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. |
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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. |
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20: So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged
without Jerusalem once or twice. |
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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. |
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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. |
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23: In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of
Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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27: Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to
transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? |
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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. |
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29: Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the
priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
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30: Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the
wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; |
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31: And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the
firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. |