VIN(i)
8 It grieved me severely. Therefore I threw all Tobiah's household stuff out of the room.
9 Then I gave orders, and they made the rooms clean: and I put back in them the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the perfume.
10 I also learned that the allotments for the Levites had not been distributed. As a result, the Levites and singers who were responsible for the service had each left to go back to their fields.
11 So I confronted the officials and asked, "Why is the temple of God neglected?" Then I gathered them together and put them back in their places.
12 So all of Judah brought the tithe of grain, new wine, and olive oil into the storehouses.
13 to the charge of Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites. And next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Matthaniah; for they were accounted faithful. It was their office to distribute to their brothers.
14 Remember me, 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 observances.
15 In those days, saw I in Judah—some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and lading asses, moreover also wine, grapes, and figs, and every kind of burden, which they were bringing into Jerusalem on the sabbath day,—so I protested against it, as a day for them to sell provisions.
16 Furthermore, Tyrians were living there who were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise, selling them to the people of Judah on the Sabbath, even in Jerusalem.
17 And I rebuked the chief men of Juda, and said to them: What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day:
18 Did not our fathers do these things, and our God brought all this evil upon us, and upon this city? And you bring more wrath upon Israel by violating the sabbath.
19 When the streets of Jerusalem were getting dark before the Sabbath, I gave orders for the gate to be shut and not to be open again until after the Sabbath. I put some of my servants by the gate so that nothing might be taken in on the Sabbath day.
20 And the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods stayed the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.
21 But I warned them and said to them, "Why are you spending the night opposite the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands against you." From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.
22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to come as gate keepers to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, my God, and show mercy to me according to the greatness of your gracious love.
23 Also in those days I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 and their children spoke half in the language of Ashdod, and did not know how to speak in the Jewish language.
25 So I quarreled with them and cursed them and beat some of their men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath by God: "Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
26 "Was it not in these things that Solomon, king of Israel, did wrong? Among a number of nations there was no king like him. He was dear to his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But even he was made to do evil by strange women.
27 And should we hearken to you to do all this great evil, to act unfaithfully to our God by marrying foreign wives?
28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the chief priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite, so I sent him away from me.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 I purified them from everything foreign, arranged duties for the priests and the Levites, each to his task,
31 And provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.