On that day they read in the book of Moshe in the hearing of the people; and therein was found written, that the ῾Ammonite and the Mo᾽avite should not come into the congregation of God forever;

On that day, the book of Moses was read in the ears of the people, and it was found written in it that an Ammonite or a Moavite may not enter the congregation of G-d [i.e., he may not marry an Israelite woman] forever [viz. Deuteronomy 23:4].

because they did not meet the children of Yisra᾽el with bread and with water, but hired Bil῾am against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

For they did not go out before the children of Israel with bread and water and because they hired against them Bilam to curse them [viz. Ibid. 5]. And G-d turned the curse into a blessing.

Now it came to pass, when they had heard that Tora, that they separated from Yisra᾽el all the mixed multitude.

And it was, when they heard the Torah, that they separated every admixture [of idolators] from Israel.

And before this, Elyashiv the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God; being allied to Toviyya,

And before this, Elyashiv the priest, a kinsman of Toviah [the Ammonite (viz. 2:10)], had placed [(Toviah's belongings)] in a chamber of the house of our G-d.

prepared for him a great chamber, where they had previously put the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the heave offerings of the priests.

And he had made him a large chamber where before they had placed the meal [for meal-offerings], the frankincense, the [Temple] vessels, the tithe of the grain, the wine, and the oil, the gifts of the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the terumah of the priests.

But in all this time I was not at Yerushalayim: for in the thirty second year of Artaĥshasta king of Bavel, I came to the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of the king:

And with all this [i.e., while all this was happening], I was not in Jerusalem. For in the thirty-second year of [the reign of] Artachshast [(Darius)] king of Bavel, I came to the king, and after some time, I asked the king [to permit me to return to Jerusalem].

and I came to Yerushalayim, and understood of the evil that Elyashiv did for Toviyya, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

And I came to Jerusalem and I realized the evil that Elyashiv had done with Toviah, giving him a chamber in the courts of the house of G-d.

And it vexed me very much: so I cast all the household articles of Toviyya out of the chamber.

And it grieved me greatly, and I threw all the vessels of Toviah's house out of the chamber.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.

And I ordered that the chambers be purified, and I restored there all the vessels of the house of G-d and the meal and the frankincense.

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, who did the work, were fled everyone to his field.

And I knew that the portions of the Levites had not been placed (there), wherefore each one ran to his field [i.e., to the fields instead of to the chambers to collect his gifts] — the Levites, the singers, the doers of the work [of the Temple].

Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

And I fought with the officers and said: Why is the house of G-d forsaken [of priests and Levites, seeking their gifts abroad!]. And I gathered them [the priests and the Levites] and I restored them to their [usual] stations [in the Temple], whither Israel again brought their gifts as in the past].

Then all Yehuda brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

And all of Judah brought the tithe of grain, wine and oil to the [Temple] storehouses.

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemya the priest, and Żadoq the scribe, and of the Levites Pedaya: and next to them was Ḥanan the son of Zakkur, the son of Mattanya: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.

And I placed over the storehouses Shelemyah the priest and Tzaddok the scribe and Pedayah of the Levites, and, assisting them, Chanan the son of Zakkur the son of Matanyah. For they could be trusted to divide [the gifts equably] among their brethren.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its service.

Remember me, my G-d, for this, and do not erase my lovingkindnesses which I have done in the house of my G-d and in its watches.

In those days I saw in Yehuda some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves of corn, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the sabbath day: and I forewarned them on the day on which they sold food.

In those days I saw [men] in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing sheaves and loading them on asses, along with wine, grapes, figs and all [other] burdens, and bringing (them) to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I exhorted [them against this] on their market day.

There dwelt men of Żor there also, who brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Yehuda, and in Yerushalayim.

And the Tyrian [merchants] who dwelt there brought fish and all [kinds of] merchandise and sold it on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem!

Then I contended with the nobles of Yehuda, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the sabbath day?

And I fought with the nobles of Judah and said to them: What is this evil thing that you are doing, desecrating the Sabbath day!

Did not your father do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? and yet you bring more wrath upon Yisra᾽el by profaning the sabbath.

Did your fathers not do thus and G-d bring all this evil upon us and upon this city! And you are increasing wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath!

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Yerushalayim 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 I set some of my servants at the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day.

And it was, as the shadows [were descending upon] the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered that the doors be closed [(so that merchants not enter the city to sell their wares on the Sabbath)], and I ordered that they not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I posted some of my youths at the gates so that no loads enter (there) on the Sabbath day.

So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of ware lodged outside Yerushalayim once or twice.

And the merchants and the sellers of all wares slept outside of Jerusalem one or two times [(so that the Jews would open the gates for them and buy from them on the Sabbath)].

Then I forewarned them, and said to them, Why do you lodge about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time on, they came no more on the sabbath.

And I warned them, saying: Why do you sleep near the wall? If you do this again, I will punish you! From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.

And I commanded the Levites, that they should 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 Thy abundant love.

And I charged the Levites [(of the incoming watch)] to purify themselves and come to guard the gates [(before the onset of the Sabbath)] to sanctify the Sabbath day. This, too, remember unto me, my G-d, and be compassionate to me in the abundance of Your lovingkindness.

In those days also I saw Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, of ῾Ammon, and of Mo᾽av:

Also, in those days, I saw the Jews taking as wives women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moav.

and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Yehuda, but according to the language of various other peoples.

And, of their children, half [i.e., many] spoke Ashdodian and could not speak the language of Judah, as the language of (all) people.

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and beat some of them, and pulled out their hair, and made them take oath by God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.

And I fought with them and I cursed them and I flogged some of the men and tore out their hair, and I beswore them: If you give your daughters to their sons and if you take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves …

Did not Shelomo king of Yisra᾽el sin by these things? and even though among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Yisra᾽el: nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin over these [women]? And in (all of) the many nations there was no king such as he. And he was beloved of his G-d. And G-d had made him king over all of Israel — he, too, was caused to sin by foreign wives!

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

[And you would take such wives] unto yourselves! Is [such a thing] heard of? To do all of this great evil? To be faithless to our G-d by wedding foreign wives!

And one of the sons of Yoyada, the son of Elyashiv the high priest, was son in law to Sanvallat the Ḥoronite: therefore I chased him from me.

And one of the sons of Yoyada the son of Elyashiv, the high-priest, was a son-in-law to Sanvalat the Choronite [(the oppressor of the Jews [viz. 2:10])], and I drove him away from my presence [(so that he not act as a spy for his father-in-law against Jerusalem)].

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

Remember unto them [(Israel) the good that they did)] in rejecting [(the unqualified from)] the priesthood and (from) the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites [viz. 7:64].

Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duty watches for the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business;

And I cleansed them from all foreign [elements] and I set up watches for the priests and the Levites, each in his function.

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

And [I instituted] the bringing of wood [for the altar] at set times, and, [likewise] for the [bringing of] first-fruits. Remember [these things] unto me for good, my G-d.