1On that day, they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written there, that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the congregation of God, 2Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them, so that he could curse them; though our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3Now after they had heard this law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude (of foreign descent).

4Before this, Eliashib, the priest, who had the oversight of the chamber of the Temple of our God, was related to and allied with Tobiah (our adversary); 5And he had provided Tobiah with a large chamber, where they had previously put the meal offerings, frankincense, utensils, the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was to be given to the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers; and the offerings of the priests by commandment. 6During that time I was not at Jerusalem; for not until the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, did I come to the king, and after certain days I asked for and was granted leave from the king. 7And then I came to Jerusalem, and discovered the evil thing that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by providing him a chamber in the courts of the Temple of God. 8And it grieved me very much; therefore, I threw all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9Then I gave an order and they cleansed and purified the chambers; and I again put the utensils of the Temple of God, with the meal offering and the frankincense, there.

10And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; for the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had each fled to his field. 11Then I reprimanded the rulers, and said, “Why is the Temple of God neglected?” And I gathered the Levites and singers together, and set them in their posts. 12Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil unto the storehouses. 13And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses: Shelemiah, the priest; and Zadok, the scribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan, son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful and reliable, and their task was to distribute to their brethren (fellow Levites). 14Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds and kindnesses that I have done for the Temple of my God, and for its services.

15In those days I also saw some in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves of grain, and loading them on donkeys; as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I rebuked and warned them against selling produce on that day. 16Also, men of Tyre who lived in the city brought fish, and all kinds of merchandise, to sell to the descendants of Judah, and in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. 17Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day? 18Did your fathers not do this, and did our God not bring all this trouble upon us, and upon this city? Yet you add more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” 19And, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut, and that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath; and I set some of my servants at the gates, to ensure that that no burden would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20Some the merchants and sellers of all kind of merchandise stayed all night outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then I said to them, “Why do you camp outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time forth, they came no more on the Sabbath. 22And I commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves, and that they should come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy.

23In those days I also saw Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, Ammon, and of Moab: 24And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each nation. 25And I confronted them, and called curses down on them, and beat some of them, and pulled out some of their hair, and made them take an oath in the name of God, and said, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves. 26Was it not because of marriages like these that King Solomon of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. And still, the foreign women caused even him to sin. 27Must we, then, hear that you, too, do all this great evil, to transgress against our God by marrying foreign women?”

28And one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib, the high priest, was son-in-law of Sanballat, the Horonite; so I banished him from my presence. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30And so I cleansed the priests from everything pagan, and defined and assigned the duties of the priests and the Levites, each to his own task. 31And I made provision for contributing the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.