On thatdaythey readin the bookof Mosesin the audienceof the people; and therein was foundwritten, thatthe Ammoniteand the Moabiteshould notcomeinto the congregationof Godforever; Becausethey metnotthe childrenof Israelwith breadand with water, but hiredBalaamagainstthem, that he should cursethem: howbeit our Godturnedthe curseinto a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heardthe law, that they separatedfrom Israelallthe mixed multitude. And beforethis, Eliashibthe priest, having the oversightof the chamberof the houseof our God, was alliedunto Tobiah: And he had preparedfor him a greatchamber, whereformerlythey laidthe meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithesof 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 offeringsof the priests. But in allthis time wasnotI at Jerusalem: forin the twoand thirtiethyearof Artaxerxeskingof BabyloncameI untothe king, and aftercertain daysobtained I leaveofthe king: And I cameto Jerusalem, and understoodof the evilthatEliashibdidfor Tobiah, in preparinghim a chamberin the courtsof the houseof God. And it grievedme sore: therefore I cast forthallthe householdstuffof Tobiahoutofthe chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansedthe chambers: and thitherbrought I againthe vesselsof the houseof God, withthe meat offeringand the frankincense. And I perceivedthatthe portionsof the Leviteshad notbeen given them : for the Levitesand the singers, that didthe work, were fledevery oneto his field. Then contendedI withthe rulers, and said, Whyis the houseof Godforsaken? And I gathered them together, and setthem intheir place. Then broughtallJudahthe titheof the cornand the new wineand the oilunto the treasuries. And I made treasurersoverthe treasuries, Shelemiahthe priest, and Zadokthe scribe, and ofthe Levites, Pedaiah: and next tothem was Hananthe sonof Zaccur, the sonof Mattaniah: forthey were countedfaithful, and their office was to distributeunto their brethren. Rememberme, O my God, concerningthis, and wipe not outmy good deedsthatI have donefor the houseof my God, and for the officesthereof. In thosedayssawI in Judah some treadingwine presseson the sabbath, and bringing insheaves, and ladingasses; as alsowine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought intoJerusalemon the sabbathday: and I testified against them in the daywherein they soldvictuals. There dweltmen of Tyrealso therein, which broughtfish, and allmanner of ware, and soldon the sabbathunto the childrenof Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contendedwiththe noblesof Judah, and saidunto them, Whatevilthing is thisthatyedo, and profanethe sabbathday? Didnotyour fathersthus, and did not our Godbringallthiseviluponus, and uponthiscity? yet yebring morewrathuponIsraelby profaningthe sabbath. And it came to pass, that whenthe gatesof Jerusalembegan to be darkbeforethe sabbath, I commandedthat the gatesshould be shut, and chargedthatthey should notbe openedtillafterthe sabbath: and some of my servantssetI atthe gates, that there should noburdenbe brought inon the sabbathday. So the merchantsand sellersof allkind of warelodgedwithoutJerusalemonceor twice. Then I testifiedagainst them, and saiduntothem, Whylodgeyeaboutthe wall? ifye do so again, I will layhandson you. Fromthattimeforth camethey no more on the sabbath. And I commandedthe Levitesthatthey shouldcleanse themselves, and that they should come and keepthe gates, to sanctifythe sabbathday. Rememberme, O my God, concerning thisalso, and spareme according to the greatnessof thy mercy. In thosedaysalsosawI Jews that had marriedwivesof Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their childrenspokehalfin the speech of Ashdod, and couldnotspeakin the Jews' language, but according to the languageof eachpeople. And I contendedwiththem, and cursedthem, and smotecertainofthem, and plucked off their hair, and made them swearby God, saying , Ye shall notgiveyour daughtersunto their sons, nortaketheir daughtersunto your sons, or for yourselves. Did notSolomonkingof Israelsinbythese things? yet among manynationswasthere nokinglike him, who wasbelovedof his God, and Godmadehim kingoverallIsrael: neverthelesseven him did outlandishwomencause to sin. Shall we then hearkenunto you to doallthisgreatevil, to transgressagainst our Godin marryingstrangewives? And one of the sonsof Joiada, the sonof Eliashibthe highpriest, was son in lawto Sanballatthe Horonite: therefore I chasedhim fromme. Rememberthem, O my God, becausethey have defiledthe priesthood, and the covenantof the priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleansedI them from allstrangers, and appointedthe wardsof the priestsand the Levites, every onein his business; And for the woodoffering, at timesappointed, and for the firstfruits. Rememberme, O my God, for good.