Foreigners Excluded 1 ULT On that day it was read in the book of Moses, in the ears of the people, and it was found written in it, that no Ammonite or Moabite shall enter into the assembly of God until eternity. BSB BSB: At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
2 ULT For they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water. And he hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God overturned the curse to a blessing. BSB BSB: because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).
3 ULT And it happened that, as soon as they heard the law, they separated all the mixed company from Israel. BSB BSB: As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.
The Temple Cleansed 4 ULT Now, before the face of this, Eliashib the priest, nearly- related to Tobiah, was being put in the chamber of the house of our God. BSB BSB: Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God
5 ULT And he made for him a great chamber, and there previously they were putting offerings: the frankincense; and the vessels; and the tithes of the grain, the wine, and the oil, the commandment for the Levites, and the ones who sang, and the gatekeepers; and the offerings of the priests. BSB BSB: and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.
6 ULT And during all this I was not in Jerusalem. For I had gone to the king in year 32 of Artaxerxes, the king of Babylon. And at an end of days I requested leave from the king. BSB BSB: While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king
7 ULT And I came to Jerusalem. And I noticed the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by making for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. BSB BSB: to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.
8 ULT And it was extremely evil to me, and I cast out all the things of the house of Tobiah from the storeroom to the outside. BSB BSB: And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.
9 ULT And I spoke, and they purified the chambers. And I returned to there the vessels of the house of God, with the offering and the incense. BSB BSB: Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings and frankincense.
Tithes Restored (Leviticus 27:30–34; Deuteronomy 14:22–29; Deuteronomy 26:1–15)
10 ULT And I knew that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and the Levites and the ones who sang, who did the work, had fled, a man to his field. BSB BSB: I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.
11 ULT And I contended with the prefects, and I said,“Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them and caused them to stand at their stations. BSB BSB: So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
12 ULT And all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, and the wine, and the oil to the treasuries. BSB BSB: and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms.
13 ULT And I appointed treasurers over the treasuries: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites; and at their hand was Hanan, the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were considered faithful, and it was for them to apportion to their brothers. BSB BSB: I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
14 ULT Remember me, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my faithful kindness that I have done for the house of my God and for its service watches. BSB BSB: Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.
The Sabbath Restored (Jeremiah 17:19–27)
15 ULT In those days I saw in Judah ones treading winepresses on the sabbath, and ones bringing in grain- heaps, and ones loading onto donkeys, yes, even wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of loads, and ones bringing to Jerusalem on the day of the sabbath. And I protested on the day of their selling provisions. BSB BSB: In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.
16 ULT And the Tyrians who dwelt in it were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and were selling them on the sabbath to the sons of Judah, even in Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.
17 ULT And I contended with the nobles of Judah. And I said to them,“What is this evil thing that you are doing, and profaning the day of the sabbath? BSB BSB: Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?
18 ULT Did not your fathers do thus, and our God brought all this evil on us and on this city? And you are increasing wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.” BSB BSB: Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”
19 ULT And it happened that, when the gates of Jerusalem grew dark before the face of the sabbath, I spoke, and the doors were shut, and I said that they should not open them until after the sabbath. And I caused some from my young men to stand at the gates; a load could not enter on the day of the sabbath. BSB BSB: When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.
20 ULT And the ones who traded and the ones who sold all kinds of goods to sell lodged outside of Jerusalem a time or two. BSB BSB: Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,
21 ULT And I testified against them, and I said to them,“Why are you lodging in front of the wall? If you repeat, I will stretch out a hand on you!” From that time, they did not come on the sabbath. BSB BSB: but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.
22 ULT And I said to the Levites that they should purify themselves and come keep the gates to consecrate the day of the sabbath. Remember me concerning this also, my God, and have pity on me according to the greatness of your covenant faithfulness. BSB BSB: Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.
Intermarriage Forbidden (Ezra 9:1–4)
23 ULT In those days I also saw Jews who had given a dwelling to Ashdodite, Ammonite, and Moabite women. BSB BSB: In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 ULT And their sons, half were speaking Ashdodite, and none of them were knowing to speak Hebrew, but according to the tongue of people group by people group. BSB BSB: Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
25 ULT And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck some of their men, and pulled out their hair. And I caused them to swear an oath by God:“If you give your daughters to their sons, or if you lift from their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves! BSB BSB: I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!
26 ULT Did not Solomon, the king of Israel, sin concerning these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him: and he was beloved by his God, and God gave him as king over all Israel. The foreign women caused even him to sin. BSB BSB: Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.
27 ULT Should we then listen to you, to do all this great evil, to act unfaithfully toward our God and give a dwelling to foreign women?” BSB BSB: Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
29 ULT Remember them, my God, on account of the defiling of the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. BSB BSB: Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30 ULT And I purified them from everything foreign. And I caused the service watches to stand: for the priests and for the Levites, a man in his work; BSB BSB: Thus I purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.
31 ULT and for the offering of pieces of wood at the appointed times; and for the firstfruits. Remember me, my God, for good. BSB BSB: I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.