1 On that day they read in the book of Moshe [He Who Draws Out Of The Waters] in the audience of the people; and in it was found written, that the ‘Amoni [tribal] and the Mo’avi [from father: what father?] should not come into the congregation of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] forever;

2 Because they met not the people of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] with bread and with water, but hired Bil’am [Not of the People] against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] turned the curse into a blessing.

3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] all the mixed multitude.

4 And before this, Elyashiv [God restores] the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], [was] allied unto Toviyah [Yehovah is good]:

5 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 be given] to the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to], and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

6 But in all this [time] was not I at Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace]: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artach’shashta [I will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter] king of Bavel (to jumble, or a confused medley of sounds; confusion; gate of the deity) (Babylon) [confusion] came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

7 And I came to Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], and understood of the evil that Elyashiv [God restores] did for Toviyah [Yehovah is good], in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].

8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Toviyah [Yehovah is good] out of the chamber.

9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to] had not been given [them]: for the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to] and the singers, that did the work, were fled everyone to his field.

11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then brought all Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] the tithe of the corn and the New Wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemyah [repaid by Yehovah] [repaid by Yehovah] the priest, and Tzadok [righteous] the scribe, and of the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to], P’dayah [Yehovah has ransomed]: and next to them [was] Hanan [he is merciful] the son of Zakur [Mindful], the son of Matanyah [gift of Yehovah]: for they were counted faithful, and their office [was] to distribute unto their brethren.

14 Remember me, O my God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and for the offices thereof.

15 In those days saw I in Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] [some] treading wine presses on the Shabbat [Rest], and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] on the Shabbat [Rest] day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals (food for humans).

16 There dwelt men of Tzor (Tyre) [a rock] also in it, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Shabbat [Rest] unto the children of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised], and in Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace].

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised], and said unto them, What evil thing [is] this that you2f do, and Profane (treat as common; defile) the Shabbat [Rest] day?

18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet you2f bring more wrath upon Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] by profaning the Shabbat [Rest].

19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] began to be dark before the Shabbat [Rest], I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Shabbat [Rest]: and [some] of my servants set I at the gates, [that] there should no burden be brought in on the Shabbat [Rest] day.

20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] once or twice.

21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge you2f about the wall? if you2f do [so] again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no [more] on the Shabbat [Rest].

22 And I commanded the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to] that they should cleanse themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates, to sanctify (make holy; set apart for God’s use) the Shabbat [Rest] day. Remember me, O my God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], [concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness of youi mercy.

23 In those days also saw I Y’hudim (Judeans) [that] had married wives of Ashdod [powerful], of ‘Amon [Inbred], [and] of Mo’av [Seed of my Father]:

24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod [powerful], and could not speak in the Y’hudit (Y’hudim (Judeans)) language, but according to the language of each people.

25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], [saying], You2f shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

26 Did not Shlomo (Solomon) [peace] king of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] made him king over all Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] in marrying strange wives?

28 And [one] of the sons of Yoyada [Yehovah knows], the son of Elyashiv [God restores] the High Priest, [was] son in law to Sanvalat [strength] the Horoni [native of twin caves]: therefore I chased him from me.

29 Remember them, O my God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to].

30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levi’im (Levites) [Joined to], everyone in his business;

31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], for good.