Nehemiah

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;

1That day the book of Moses was read out loud so all the people could hear. In it they found a rule written down: no Ammonite or Moabite could ever join God's gathered people.

2Because 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.

2This was because those nations did not bring bread and water to the people of Israel. Instead they paid Balaam to curse Israel. But our God turned that curse into a blessing.

3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

3When the people heard this law, they sent away from Israel everyone who came from other nations.

4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

4Before this, a priest named Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms in God's house. He was a close connection of Tobiah.

5And 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.

5Eliashib had fixed up a large room for Tobiah. That room had been used to store the grain offerings, the frankincense, and the temple dishes and tools. It also held the tenth part of grain, new wine, and oil that was owed to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, plus the gifts for the priests.

Note"Meat offerings" in the KJV means grain offerings, not meat. In 1611 "meat" meant food of any kind. Frankincense is a scented tree resin burned in worship.

6But 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:

6While all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem. In the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. Later I asked him for permission to leave, and he gave it.

Note"Obtained leave of the king" means he was given permission to go, not that he was fired or sent away.

7And 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.

7I came back to Jerusalem and learned the wrong thing Eliashib had done for Tobiah. He had given him a room right in the courtyards of God's house.

8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

8This upset me very much. So I threw all of Tobiah's furniture and belongings out of the room.

9Then 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.

9Then I gave orders for the rooms to be made clean again. I brought back the dishes and tools of God's house, along with the grain offerings and the frankincense.

10And 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.

10I also found out that the Levites had not been given the food and supplies owed to them. So the Levites and the singers who did the temple work had all gone back to their own fields.

11Then 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.

11So I argued with the officials and asked, "Why has God's house been left uncared for?" Then I called the workers back together and put them at their posts.

12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

12After that, all Judah brought a tenth of their grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms.

13And 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.

13I put trustworthy men in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah, a Levite. Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, helped them. Their job was to hand out the supplies to their fellow workers.

14Remember 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.

14Remember me for this, my God. Do not erase the good and faithful things I have done for my God's house and its work.

15In 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.

15In those days I saw people in Judah crushing grapes on the sabbath. They were bringing in stacks of grain and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of load. All of it came into Jerusalem on the sabbath. So I warned them not to sell food on that day.

Note"Victuals" means food. "Lading asses" means loading donkeys.

16There 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.

16Men from Tyre were living in the city too. They brought in fish and all sorts of goods and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, right in Jerusalem.

17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

17Then I argued with the leading men of Judah. I said to them, "What is this wrong thing you are doing? You are treating the sabbath as if it were an ordinary day.

18Did 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.

18Did your fathers not do the same thing? That is why our God brought all this trouble on us and on this city. Now you are making God angry with Israel all over again by ruining the sabbath."

19And 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.

19So when the evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the sabbath, I ordered the gates shut. They were not to be opened until the sabbath was over. I also stationed some of my own men at the gates so no loads could come in on the sabbath.

20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

20Once or twice the traders and sellers of all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem for the night.

21Then 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.

21So I warned them. I said, "Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will take hold of you by force." After that they stopped coming on the sabbath.

22And 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.

22Then I told the Levites to make themselves clean and to come and guard the gates, so the sabbath would be kept holy. Remember me for this too, my God, and be kind to me, because your mercy is great.

23In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

23In those days I also saw Jewish men who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

24And 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.

24Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of some other people. They could not speak the language of Judah at all.

25And 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.

25I argued with these men and called down curses on them. I hit some of them and pulled out their hair. Then I made them swear an oath before God. I said, "Do not let your daughters marry their sons. Do not take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves.

26Did 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.

26Did Solomon king of Israel not sin over things like this? Among many nations there was no king like him. God loved him and made him king over all Israel. Even so, foreign women led even him into sin.

Note"Outlandish women" simply means women from other lands, not women who behaved oddly.

27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

27Should we listen to you and let you do this terrible wrong? You would be breaking faith with our God by marrying foreign women."

28And 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.

28One of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, had married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite. So I drove him away from me.

29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

29Remember them, my God, because they made the priesthood unclean. They broke the agreement made with the priests and the Levites.

30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

30So I made the priests and Levites clean from everything foreign. I gave each of them his own duties to do.

31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

31I also set up the times for people to bring the gifts of wood and the first crops of the harvest. Remember me, my God, and be good to me.