The Book of Nehemiah, Chapter 13נחמיה 13

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נִקְרָ֛א בְּסֵ֥פֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְנִמְצָא֙ כָּת֣וּב בּ֔וֹ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹא יָב֨וֹא עַמֹּנִ֧י וּמֹאָבִ֛י בִּקְהַ֥ל הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַד עוֹלָֽם

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;

כִּ֣י לֹ֧א קִדְּמ֛וּ אֶת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּלֶּ֣חֶם וּבַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר עָלָ֤יו אֶת בִּלְעָם֙ לְקַֽלְל֔וֹ וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָֽה

Because 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.

וַיְהִ֖י כְּשָׁמְעָ֣ם אֶת הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ כָל עֵ֖רֶב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל

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

וְלִפְנֵ֣י מִזֶּ֔ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נָת֖וּן בְּלִשְׁכַּ֣ת בֵּית אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ קָר֖וֹב לְטוֹבִיָּֽה

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

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֜וֹ לִשְׁכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה וְשָׁ֣ם הָי֪וּ לְפָנִ֟ים נֹ֠תְנִים אֶת הַמִּנְחָ֨ה הַלְּבוֹנָ֜ה וְהַכֵּלִ֗ים וּמַעְשַׂ֤ר הַדָּגָן֙ הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר מִצְוַת֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים וּתְרוּמַ֖ת הַכֹּהֲנִֽים

And 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 the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

וּבְכָל זֶ֕ה לֹ֥א הָיִ֖יתִי בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כִּ֡י בִּשְׁנַת֩ שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וּשְׁתַּ֜יִם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ בָּבֶל֙ בָּ֣אתִי אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְקֵ֥ץ יָמִ֖ים נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּי מִן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

But in all this was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I to the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

וָאָב֖וֹא לִֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וָאָבִ֣ינָה בָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ לְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לוֹ֙ נִשְׁכָּ֔ה בְּחַצְרֵ֖י בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים

And 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.

וַיֵּ֥רַֽע לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד וָֽאַשְׁלִ֜יכָה אֶֽת כָּל כְּלֵ֧י בֵית טוֹבִיָּ֛ה הַח֖וּץ מִן הַלִּשְׁכָּֽה

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

וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה וַֽיְטַהֲר֖וּ הַלְּשָׁכ֑וֹת וָאָשִׁ֣יבָה שָּׁ֗ם כְּלֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת הַמִּנְחָ֖ה וְהַלְּבוֹנָֽה

Then 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.

וָאֵ֣דְעָ֔ה כִּֽי מְנָי֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לֹ֣א נִתָּ֑נָה וַיִּבְרְח֧וּ אִישׁ לְשָׂדֵ֛הוּ הַלְוִיִּ֥ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים עֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָֽה

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

וָאָרִ֨יבָה֙ אֶת הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה מַדּ֖וּעַ נֶעֱזַ֣ב בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וָֽאֶ֨קְבְּצֵ֔ם וָֽאַעֲמִדֵ֖ם עַל עָמְדָֽם

Then 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.

וְכָל יְהוּדָ֗ה הֵבִ֜יאוּ מַעְשַׂ֧ר הַדָּגָ֛ן וְהַתִּיר֥וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֖ר לָאוֹצָרֽוֹת

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

וָאוֹצְרָ֣ה עַל א֠וֹצָרוֹת שֶׁלֶמְיָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וְצָד֣וֹק הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וּפְדָיָה֙ מִן הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְעַל יָדָ֔ם חָנָ֥ן בֶּן זַכּ֖וּר בֶּן מַתַּנְיָ֑ה כִּ֤י נֶאֱמָנִים֙ נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ וַעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לַחֲלֹ֥ק לַאֲחֵיהֶֽם

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office to distribute to their brethren.

זָכְרָה לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י עַל זֹ֑את וְאַל תֶּ֣מַח חֲסָדַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֛יתִי בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהַ֖י וּבְמִשְׁמָרָֽיו

Remember 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.

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֡מָּה רָאִ֣יתִי בִֽיהוּדָ֣ה דֹּֽרְכִֽים גִּתּ֣וֹת בַּשַּׁבָּ֡ת וּמְבִיאִ֣ים הָעֲרֵמ֣וֹת וְֽעֹמְסִ֪ים עַל הַחֲמֹרִ֟ים וְאַף יַ֜יִן עֲנָבִ֤ים וּתְאֵנִים֙ וְכָל מַשָּׂ֔א וּמְבִיאִ֥ים יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וָאָעִ֕יד בְּי֖וֹם מִכְרָ֥ם צָֽיִד

In those days saw I in Judah treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified in the day wherein they sold victuals.

וְהַצֹּרִים֙ יָ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֔הּ מְבִיאִ֥ים דָּ֖אג וְכָל מֶ֑כֶר וּמֹכְרִ֧ים בַּשַּׁבָּ֛ת לִבְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִירוּשָׁלִָֽם

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

וָאָרִ֕יבָה אֵ֖ת חֹרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם מָֽה הַדָּבָ֨ר הָרָ֤ע הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים וּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖ים אֶת י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת

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

הֲל֨וֹא כֹ֤ה עָשׂוּ֙ אֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וַיָּבֵ֨א אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ עָלֵ֗ינוּ אֵ֚ת כָּל הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְעַ֖ל הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְאַתֶּ֞ם מוֹסִיפִ֤ים חָרוֹן֙ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְחַלֵּ֖ל אֶת הַשַּׁבָּֽת

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צָֽלֲלוּ֩ שַׁעֲרֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לִפְנֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת וָאֹֽמְרָה֙ וַיִּסָּגְר֣וּ הַדְּלָת֔וֹת וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִפְתָּח֔וּם עַ֖ד אַחַ֣ר הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וּמִנְּעָרַ֗י הֶֽעֱמַ֨דְתִּי֙ עַל הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים לֹא יָב֥וֹא מַשָּׂ֖א בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת

And 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 of my servants set I at the gates, there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

וַיָּלִ֨ינוּ הָרֹכְלִ֜ים וּמֹכְרֵ֧י כָל מִמְכָּ֛ר מִח֥וּץ לִירוּשָׁלִָ֖ם פַּ֥עַם וּשְׁתָּֽיִם

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

וָאָעִ֣ידָה בָהֶ֗ם וָאֹמְרָ֤ה אֲלֵיהֶם֙ מַדּ֜וּעַ אַתֶּ֤ם לֵנִים֙ נֶ֣גֶד הַחוֹמָ֔ה אִם תִּשְׁנ֕וּ יָ֖ד אֶשְׁלַ֣ח בָּכֶ֑ם מִן הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא לֹא בָ֖אוּ בַּשַּׁבָּֽת

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

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְי֤וּ מִֽטַּהֲרִים֙ וּבָאִים֙ שֹׁמְרִ֣ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים לְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת גַּם זֹאת֙ זָכְרָה לִּ֣י אֱלֹהַ֔י וְח֥וּסָה עָלַ֖י כְּרֹ֥ב חַסְדֶּֽךָ

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and they should come keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

גַּ֣ם בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת הַיְּהוּדִים֙ הֹשִׁ֗יבוּ נָשִׁים֙ אשדודיות אַשְׁדֳּדִיּ֔וֹת עמוניות עַמֳּנִיּ֖וֹת מוֹאֲבִיּֽוֹת

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

וּבְנֵיהֶ֗ם חֲצִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית וְאֵינָ֥ם מַכִּירִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוּדִ֑ית וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן עַ֥ם וָעָֽם

And 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.

וָאָרִ֤יב עִמָּם֙ וָאֲקַֽלְלֵ֔ם וָאַכֶּ֥ה מֵהֶ֛ם אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וָֽאֶמְרְטֵ֑ם וָאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣ם בֵּֽאלֹהִ֗ים אִם תִּתְּנ֤וּ בְנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ לִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְאִם תִּשְׂאוּ֙ מִבְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֖ם וְלָכֶֽם

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, , You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.

הֲל֣וֹא עַל אֵ֣לֶּה חָטָֽא שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וּבַגּוֹיִ֣ם הָרַבִּים֩ לֹֽא הָיָ֨ה מֶ֜לֶךְ כָּמֹ֗הוּ וְאָה֤וּב לֵֽאלֹהָיו֙ הָיָ֔ה וַיִּתְּנֵ֣הוּ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גַּם אוֹת֣וֹ הֶחֱטִ֔יאוּ הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנָּכְרִיּֽוֹת

Did 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.

וְלָכֶ֣ם הֲנִשְׁמַ֗ע לַעֲשֹׂת֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את לִמְעֹ֖ל בֵּֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְהֹשִׁ֖יב נָשִׁ֥ים נָכְרִיּֽוֹת

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

וּמִבְּנֵ֨י יוֹיָדָ֤ע בֶּן אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל חָתָ֖ן לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֑י וָאַבְרִיחֵ֖הוּ מֵעָלָֽי

And of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

זָכְרָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם אֱלֹהָ֑י עַ֚ל גָּאֳלֵ֣י הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה וּבְרִ֥ית הַכְּהֻנָּ֖ה וְהַלְוִיִּֽם

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

וְטִֽהַרְתִּ֖ים מִכָּל נֵכָ֑ר וָאַעֲמִ֧ידָה מִשְׁמָר֛וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ בִּמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ

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

וּלְקֻרְבַּ֧ן הָעֵצִ֛ים בְּעִתִּ֥ים מְזֻמָּנ֖וֹת וְלַבִּכּוּרִ֑ים זָכְרָה לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י לְטוֹבָֽה

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