1 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; 2 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. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4 ¶ And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 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 Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: 7 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. 8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 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.
10 ¶ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 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. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13 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 counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 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.
15 ¶ In those days saw I 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 wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 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. 19 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 some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 22 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.
23 ¶ In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24 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. 25 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 unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 26 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. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him 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 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
Cittautiešu nošķiršana no Israēla
(4Moz 22:1–24:25)1 Todien tautai lasīja priekšā Mozus grāmatu, un tur bija rakstīts, ka amonieši un moābieši nemūžam nedrīkst nākt Dieva sapulcē, 2 jo tie nebija sagaidījuši Israēla dēlus ar maizi un ūdeni, bet bija nolīguši pret tiem Bileāmu, lai tas viņus nolād – taču mūsu Dievs lāstu pārvērta svētībā! 3 Kad ļaudis dzirdēja bauslību, tie no Israēla nošķīra visus cittautiešus.
Nehemija atjauno kārtību templī
4 Bet pirms tam priesteris Eljāšībs bija iecelts par mūsu Dieva nama telpu pārzini, viņš bija Tobījas draugs. 5 Viņš tam bija ierīkojis lielu istabu, kur pirms tam bija glabāta labības dāvana, vīraks, trauki un desmitā tiesa no labības, jaunā vīna un eļļas, kas pienācās levītiem, dziedātājiem un vārtu sargiem, kā arī ziedojumi priesteriem. 6 Kamēr tas viss notika, es nebiju Jeruzālemē, jo Bābeles ķēniņa Artakserksa trīsdesmit otrajā gadā es biju devies pie ķēniņa, un pēc kāda laika es lūdzu ķēniņam atļauju 7 doties uz Jeruzālemi. Tur es ieraudzīju, kāds ļaunums izdarīts – Eljāšībs bija ierīkojis Tobījam istabu Dieva nama pagalmos. 8 Tas mani ļoti sadusmoja, un es liku izmest no tās istabas visas Tobīja lietas. 9 Tad es pavēlēju šķīstīt istabu un sanesu atpakaļ Dieva nama traukus, labības dāvanu un vīraku.
10 Es arī uzzināju, ka netiek dota levītu daļa un tādēļ levīti un dziedātāji, kas veica darbu, aizbēguši katrs uz savu īpašumu. 11 Es norāju pārvaldniekus un sacīju: “Kādēļ Dieva nams ir pamests?” Es tos sapulcināju un atkal iecēlu katru savā vietā. 12 Tad visa Jūda saveda mantnīcās desmito tiesu no labības, jaunā vīna un eļļas. 13 Par mantnīcu mantziņiem es iecēlu priesteri Šelemju, rakstvedi Cādoku, no levītiem Pedāju, un viņiem palīgos – Hānānu, Zakūra dēlu, Matanjas dēlu, jo tos uzskatīja par uzticamiem, un tiem uzdeva visu sadalīt saviem brāļiem.
14 Tādēļ piemini mani, Dievs, un neizdzēs labo, ko esmu darījis sava Dieva namam un kalpošanai!
Sabata atjaunošana
15 Tolaik es redzēju, ka Jūdā sabatā min vīnspaidu, ka nes kūlīšus un krauj uz ēzeļiem, un arī vīnu, vīnogas, vīģes un dažādas nastas sabata dienā nes uz Jeruzālemi. Es tos brīdināju todien, kad tie pārdeva ēdamo. 16 Pilsētā dzīvoja arī tīrieši, tie ieveda zivis un dažādas preces un sabatā tās Jeruzālemē pārdeva Jūdas dēliem. 17 Tad es norāju Jūdas dižciltīgos un sacīju tiem: “Kāpēc jūs darāt šīs ļaunās lietas un apgānāt sabatu? 18 Vai tā nedarīja jau jūsu tēvi? Un mūsu Dievs ir licis nākt visam šim ļaunumam pār mums un pār šo pilsētu, un jūs vairojat dusmas pret Israēlu, sagānīdami sabatu!”
19 Kad sabata priekšvakarā Jeruzālemes vārtos sāka krēslot, es pavēlēju aizvērt vārtus un noteicu, lai neatver līdz sabata beigām. Vairākus savus kalpus es iecēlu par vārtu sargiem, lai sabatā netiek ienesta neviena nasta. 20 Tad tirgoņi un dažādu preču pārdevēji vienu vai divas reizes pārnakšņoja ārpus Jeruzālemes, 21 bet es tos brīdināju un sacīju tiem: “Kādēļ jūs nakšņojat pie mūra? Ja jūs tā darīsiet vēlreiz, es likšu jūs sagrābt!” Kopš tā laika viņi sabatā nenāca.
22 Es noteicu levītiem, lai tie šķīstās un nāk sargāt vārtus, lai tiktu svētīta sabata diena. Piemini arī to man par labu, Dievs, un žēlo mani ar savu lielo žēlastību!
Jaukto laulību aizliegums
(Ezr 9:1–4)23 Tolaik es redzēju arī, ka jūdi apprecējuši ašdodiešu, amoniešu un moābiešu sievas, 24 un puse no viņu dēliem runāja ašdodiski un neprata runāt jūdiski, bet tikai tās tautas valodā. 25 Tad es rājos ar tiem, lādēju un situ dažus no tiem vīriem un plūcu tiem matus. Es liku tiem zvērēt pie Dieva – jūs nedosiet savas meitas viņu dēliem un neņemsiet viņu meitas saviem dēliem un sev! 26 Vai Israēla ķēniņš Sālamans nekrita grēkā tieši tādēļ? Starp daudzām tautām nav bijis tāda ķēniņa – viņš bija Dieva mīlēts, un Dievs viņu iecēla par visa Israēla ķēniņu, bet svešu tautu sievas pat viņu pavedināja grēkot! 27 Un tagad mēs par jums dzirdam, ka jūs darāt visu šo lielo ļaunumu un netaisnību pret mūsu Dievu, precēdami citu tautu sievas! 28 Viens no augstā priestera Jehojādas, Eljāšība dēla, dēliem bija horonieša Sanballata znots, tādēļ es to padzinu. 29 Piemini viņus, Dievs, jo tie aptraipījuši priestera amatu un priesteru un levītu derību!
30 Tā es tos šķīstīju no visa svešā un atkal iecēlu priesterus un levītus, katru savā darbā, 31 un atjaunoju malkas upurveltes noteiktos laikos un pirmo augļu pienešanu. Piemini to, Dievs, man par labu!
