Nehemiah Chapter 13
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
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Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
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Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
4
And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah
5
were joined to Benjamin.
6
Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
7
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
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Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
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Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
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Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
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Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.
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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
13
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah,
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and Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
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Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brethren, were over against them according to their offices.
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And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,
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and Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.
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And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’
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houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
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of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
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of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
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of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
23
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
24
of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
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of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
26
and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
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of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
28
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
29
As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers’
30
houses; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.
31
The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and there was found written in it that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation ofGod for ever;
2
because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and with water, and had hired Balaam against them, to curse them; but ourGod turned the curse into blessing.
3
And it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4
And before this, Eliashib the priest, who had the oversight of the chambers of the house of ourGod, a kinsman of Tobijah,
5
had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the oblations, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which was commanded for the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers, and the heave-offerings of the priests.
6
And during all that [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king; and after some time I obtained leave of the king.
7
And I came to Jerusalem, and observed the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobijah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house ofGod.
8
And it grieved me much, and I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobijah out of the chamber.
9
And I commanded, and they purified the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house ofGod, the oblation and the frankincense.
10
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that the Levites and the singers that did the work had fled every one to his field.
11
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house ofGod forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
12
And all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil into the storehouses.
13
And I made storekeepers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and subordinate to them, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were esteemed faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.
14
Remember me, O myGod, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds which I have done for the house of myGod, and for the charges thereof!
15
In those days I saw in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading them on asses; as also wine, grapes and figs, and all manner of burdens; and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I protested in the day on which they sold the victuals.
16
Men of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold it on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
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And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this which ye do, profaning the sabbath day?
18
Did not your fathers thus, and did not ourGod bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? And ye will bring more wrath against Israel by profaning the sabbath.
19
And it came to pass, that when it began to be dark in the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And I set [some] of my servants at the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day.
20
And the dealers and sellers of all kind of ware passed the night without Jerusalem once or twice.
21
And I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye pass the night before the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came not on the sabbath.
22
And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to hallow the sabbath day. Remember this also for me, myGod, and spare me according to thy great loving-kindness!
23
In those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab.
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And their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
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And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair, and adjured them byGod [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among the many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of hisGod, andGod made him king over all Israel; but even him did foreign wives cause to sin.
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And should we hearken to you to do all this great evil, to act unfaithfully to ourGod by marrying foreign wives?
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And [one] of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; and I chased him from me.
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Remember them, myGod, for they are polluters of the priesthood, and of the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites!
30
And I purified them from all foreigners, and appointed the charges of the priests and the Levites, every one in his service;
31
and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O myGod, for good!
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
In that day they read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people; and it was found written in it, that the Ammonites and Moabites should not enter into the congregation of God for ever;
2
because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3
And it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they were separated, [even] every alien in Israel.
4
And before this time Eliasib the priest dwelt in the treasury of the house of our God, connected with Tobias;
5
and he made himself a great treasury, and there they were formerly in the habit of bestowing the offerings, and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the corn, and the wine, and the oil, the ordered portion of the Levites, and singers, and porters; and the first-fruits of the priests.
6
But in all this [time] I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Arthasastha king of Babylon I came to the king, and after a certain time I made my request of the king;
7
and I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the mischief which Eliasib had done in the case of Tobias, in making for him a treasury in the court of the house of God.
8
And it appeared very evil to me: so I cast forth all the furniture of the house of Tobias from the treasury.
9
And I gave orders, and they purified the treasuries: and I restored thither the vessels of the house of God, [and] the offerings, and the frankincense.
10
And I understood that the portion of the Levites had not been given: and they had fled every one to his field, the Levites and the singers doing the work.
11
And I strove with the commanders, and said, Wherefore has the house of God been abandoned? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
12
And all Juda brought a tithe of the wheat and the wine and the oil into the treasuries,
13
to the charge of Selemia the priest, and Sadoc the scribe, and Phadaea of the Levites: and next to them [was] Anan the son of Zacchur, son of Matthanias; for they were accounted faithful: [it was] their office to distribute to their brethren.
14
Remember me, O God, in this, and let not my kindness be forgotten which I have wrought in [regard to] the house of the Lord God.
15
In those days I saw in Juda [men] treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and carrying sheaves, and loading asses with both wine, and grapes, and figs, and every [kind of] burden, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day:
16
and I testified in the day of their sale. Also their dwelt in it [men] bringing fish, and selling every [kind of] merchandise to the children of Juda and in Jerusalem on the sabbath.
17
And I strove with the free children of Juda, and said to them, What [is] this evil thing which ye do, and profane the sabbath-day?
18
Did not your fathers thus, and our God brought upon them and upon us and upon this city all these evils? and do ye bring additional wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath?
19
And it came to pass, when the gates were set up in Jerusalem, before the sabbath, that I spoke, and they shut the gates; and I gave orders that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and I set [some] of my servants at the gates, that none should bring [in] burdens on the sabbath-day.
20
So all [the merchants] lodged, and carried on traffic without Jerusalem once or twice.
21
Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do ye lodge in front of the wall? if ye do so again, I will stretch out my hand upon you. From that time they came not on the sabbath.
22
and I told the Levites who were purifying themselves, and came and kept the gates, that they should sanctify the sabbath-day. Remember me, O God, for these things, and spare me according to the abundance of thy mercy.
23
And in those days I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:
24
and their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and did not know how to speak in the Jewish language.
25
And I strove with them and cursed them; and I smote some of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying,]Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, and ye shall not take of their daughters to your sons.
26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin thus? though there was no king like him among many nations, and he was beloved of God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet strange women turned him aside.
27
So we will not hearken to you to do all this evil, to break covenant with our God, —to marry strange wives.
28
and Elisub the high priest, [one] of the sons of Joada, [being] son-in-law of Sanaballat the Uranite, I chased him away from me.
29
Remember them, O God, for their [false] connection with the priesthood, and [the breaking] the covenant of the priesthood, and [for defiling] the Levites.
30
So I purged them from all foreign connection, and established courses for the priests and the Levites, [every] man according to his work.
31
And the offering of the wood-bearers [was] at certain set times, and in the [times of the] first-fruits. Remember me, O our God, for good.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
In die autem illo lectum est in volumine Moysi audiente populo: et inventum est scriptum in eo, quod non debeant introire Ammonites et Moabites in ecclesiam Dei usque in æternum:
2
eo quod non occurrerint filiis Israel cum pane et aqua: et conduxerint adversum eos Balaam, ad maledicendum eis: et convertit Deus noster maledictionem in benedictionem.
3
Factum est autem, cum audissent legem, separaverunt omnem alienigenam ab Israel.
4
Et super hoc erat Eliasib sacerdos, qui fuerat præpositus in gazophylacio domus Dei nostri, et proximus Tobiæ.
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Fecit ergo sibi gazophylacium grande, et ibi erant ante eum reponentes munera, et thus, et vasa, et decimam frumenti, vini, et olei, partes Levitarum, et cantorum, et ianitorum, et primitias sacerdotales.
6
In omnibus autem his non fui in Ierusalem, quia anno trigesimo secundo Artaxerxis regis Babylonis veni ad regem, et in fine dierum rogavi regem.
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Et veni in Ierusalem, et intellexi malum, quod fecerat Eliasib Tobiæ ut faceret ei thesaurum in vestibulis domus Dei.
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Et malum mihi visum est valde. Et proieci vasa domus Tobiæ foras de gazophylacio:
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præcepique et emundaverunt gazophylacia: et retuli ibi vasa domus Dei, sacrificium, et thus.
10
Et cognovi quod partes Levitarum non fuissent datæ: et fugisset unusquisque in regionem suam de Levitis, et cantoribus, et de his, qui ministrabant:
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et egi causam adversus magistratus, et dixi: Quare dereliquimus domum Dei? Et congregavi eos, et feci stare in stationibus suis.
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Et omnis Iuda apportabat decimam frumenti, vini, et olei in horrea.
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Et constituimus super horrea Selemiam Sacerdotem, et Sadoc scribam, et Phadaiam de Levitis, et iuxta eos Hanan filium Zachur, filium Mathaniæ: quoniam fideles comprobati sunt, et ipsis creditæ sunt partes fratrum suorum.
14
Memento mei Deus meus pro hoc, et ne deleas miserationes meas, quas feci in domo Dei mei, et in ceremoniis eius.
15
In diebus illis vidi in Iuda calcantes torcularia in sabbato, portantes acervos, et onerantes super asinos vinum, et uvas, et ficus, et omne onus, et inferentes in Ierusalem die sabbati. Et contestatus sum ut in die qua vendere liceret, venderent.
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Et Tyrii habitaverunt in ea inferentes pisces, et omnia venalia: et vendebant in sabbatis filiis Iuda in Ierusalem:
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et obiurgavi optimates Iuda, et dixi eis: Quæ est hæc res mala, quam vos facitis et profanatis diem Sabbati?
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Numquid non hæc fecerunt patres nostri, et adduxit Deus noster super nos omne malum hoc, et super civitatem hanc? Et vos additis iracundiam super Israel violando Sabbatum.
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Factum est autem, cum quievissent portæ Ierusalem in die Sabbati, dixi: et clauserunt ianuas, et præcepi ut non aperirent eas usque post Sabbatum: et de pueris meis constitui super portas, ut nullus inferret onus in die Sabbati.
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Et manserunt negotiatores, et vendentes universa venalia foris Ierusalem semel et bis.
21
Et contestatus sum eos, et dixi eis: Quare manetis ex adverso muri? si secundo hoc feceritis, manum mittam in vos. Itaque ex tempore illo non venerunt in Sabbato.
22
Dixi quoque Levitis ut mundarentur, et venirent ad custodiendas portas, et sanctificandam diem Sabbati: et pro hoc ergo memento mei Deus meus, et parce mihi secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum.
23
Sed et in diebus illis vidi Iudæos ducentes uxores Azotidas, Ammonitidas, et Moabitidas.
24
Et filii eorum ex media parte loquebantur Azotice, et nesciebant loqui Iudaice, et loquebantur iuxta linguam populi, et populi.
25
Et obiurgavi eos, et maledixi. Et cecidi ex eis viros, et decalvavi eos, et adiuravi in Deo, ut non darent filias suas filiis eorum, et non acciperent de filiabus eorum filiis suis, et sibimetipsis, dicens:
26
Numquid non in huiuscemodi re peccavit Salomon rex Israel? et certe in gentibus multis non erat rex similis ei, et dilectus Deo suo erat, et posuit eum Deus regem super omnem Israel: et ipsum ergo duxerunt ad peccatum mulieres alienigenæ.
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Numquid et nos inobedientes faciemus omne malum grande hoc ut prævaricemur in Deo nostro, et ducamus uxores peregrinas?
28
De filiis autem Ioiada filii Eliasib sacerdotis magni, gener erat Sanaballat Horonites, quem fugavi a me.
29
Recordare Domine Deus meus adversum eos, qui polluunt sacerdotium, iusque Sacerdotale et Leviticum.
30
Igitur mundavi eos ab omnibus alienigenis, et constitui ordines Sacerdotum et Levitarum, unumquemque in ministerio suo:
31
et in oblatione lignorum in temporibus constitutis, et in primitivis: memento mei Deus meus in bonum. Amen.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
2
because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3
It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
4
Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,
5
had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the wave offerings for the priests.
6
But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king; and after some days I asked leave of the king,
7
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of God’s house.
8
It grieved me severely. Therefore I threw all Tobiah’s household stuff out of the room.
9
Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms. I brought into them the vessels of God’s house, with the meal offerings and the frankincense again.
10
I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had each fled to his field.
11
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is God’s house forsaken?” I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12
Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the treasuries.
13
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 business was to distribute to their brothers.
14
Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances.
15
In those days I saw some men treading wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food.
16
Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?
18
Didn’t your fathers do this, and didn’t our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”
19
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 until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20
So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice.
21
Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath.
22
I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me for this also, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.
23
In those days I also saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;
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.
25
I contended with them, cursed them, struck certain of them, plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
26
Didn’t Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.
27
Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?”
28
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.
29
Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30
Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work;
31
and for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
On that day there was read in the book of Moses, in the ears of the people, and it hath been found written in it that an Ammonite and Moabite doth not come into the assembly of God--unto the age,
2
because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hire against them Balaam to revile them, and our God turneth the reviling into a blessing.
3
And it cometh to pass, at their hearing the law, that they separate all the mixed people from Israel.
4
And before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, <FI>is<Fi> a relation of Tobiah,
5
and he maketh for him a great chamber, and there they were formerly putting the present, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the corn, the new wine, and the oil--the commanded thing of the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers--and the heave-offering of the priests.
6
And during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon did I come unto the king, and at the end of days I have asked of the king,
7
and I come in to Jerusalem, and understand concerning the evil that Eliashib hath done for Tobiah, to make to him a chamber in the courts of the house of God,
8
and it is very displeasing to me, and I cast all the vessels of the house of Tobiah without, out of the chamber,
9
and I speak, and they cleanse the chambers, and I bring back thither the vessels of the house of God with the present and the frankincense.
10
And I know that the portions of the Levites have not been given, and they flee each to his field--the Levites and the singers, doing the work.
11
And I strive with the prefects, and say, `Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them, and set them on their station;
12
and all Judah have brought in the tithe of the corn, and of the new wine, and of the oil, to the treasuries.
13
And I appoint treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and by their hand <FI>is<Fi> Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for stedfast they have been reckoned, and on them <FI>it is<Fi> to give a portion to their brethren.
14
Be mindful of me, O my God, for this, and do not blot out my kind acts that I have done, for the house of my God, and for its charges.
15
In those days I have seen in Judah those treading wine-vats on sabbath, and bringing in the sheaves, and lading on the asses, and also, wine, grapes, and figs, and every burden, yea, they are bringing in to Jerusalem on the sabbath-day, and I testify in the day of their selling provision.
16
And the Tyrians have dwelt in it, bringing in fish, and every ware, and selling on sabbath to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem.
17
And I strive with the freemen of Judah, and say to them, `What <FI>is<Fi> this evil thing that ye are doing, and polluting the sabbath-day?
18
Thus did not your fathers do? and our God bringeth in on us all this evil, and on this city, and ye are adding fierceness on Israel, to pollute the sabbath.'
19
And it cometh to pass, when the gates of Jerusalem have been dark before the sabbath, that I speak, and the doors are shut, and I say, that they do not open them till after the sabbath; and of my servants I have stationed at the gates; there doth not come in a burden on the sabbath-day.
20
And they lodge--the merchants and sellers of all ware--at the outside of Jerusalem, once or twice,
21
and I testify against them, and say unto them, `Wherefore are ye lodging over-against the wall? if ye repeat <FI>it<Fi> , a hand I put forth upon you;' from that time they have not come in on the sabbath.
22
And I say to the Levites, that they be cleansed, and, coming in, keeping the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day. Also, this, remember for me, O my God, and have pity on me, according to the abundance of Thy kindness.
23
Also, in those days, I have seen the Jews <FI>who<Fi> have settled women of Ashdod, of Ammon, of Moab.
24
And of their sons, half are speaking Ashdoditish--and are not knowing to speak Jewish--and according to the language of people and people.
25
And I strive with them, and declare them vile, and smite certain of them, and pluck off their hair, and cause them to swear by God, `Ye do not give your daughters to their sons, nor do ye take of their daughters to your sons, and to yourselves.
26
`By these did not Solomon king of Israel sin? and among the many nations there was no king like him, and beloved by his God he was, and God maketh him king over all Israel--even him did the strange women cause to sin.
27
And to you do we hearken to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God, to settle strange women?'
28
And <FI>one<Fi> of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest, <FI>is<Fi> son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, and I cause him to flee from off me.
29
Be mindful of them, O my God, for the redeemed of the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30
And I have cleansed them from every stranger, and appoint charges to priests and to Levites, each in his work,
31
and for the wood-offering at appointed times, and for first-fruits. Be mindful of me, O my God, for good.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).