Foreigners Excluded 1 WBS 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: 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 WBS Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Baalam against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into 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 WBS Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. BSB BSB: As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.
The Temple Cleansed 4 WBS And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah: 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 WBS And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly 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 be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; 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 WBS But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of 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 WBS And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing 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 WBS And it grieved me greatly: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. BSB BSB: And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.
9 WBS Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither I brought again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat-offering and the frankincense. 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 WBS And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them : for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled every one 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 WBS Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? and I assembled them, and set them in their place. 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 WBS Then all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new 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 WBS And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were accounted faithful; and their office was to distribute to their brethren. 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 WBS 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 its offices. 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 WBS In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold 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 WBS There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and 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 WBS Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? BSB BSB: Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?
18 WBS Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more 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 WBS 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 I set some of my servants at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 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 WBS So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. BSB BSB: Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,
21 WBS Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more 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 WBS And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. 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 WBS In those days also I saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: BSB BSB: In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
24 WBS And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but according to the language of each people. 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 WBS And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying , Ye shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to 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 WBS Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause 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 WBS Shall we then hearken to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives? 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 WBS Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of 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 WBS Thus I cleansed them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 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 WBS And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O 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.