1On that day, they were vibing with the book of Moses in front of everyone; it was found that the Ammonites and Moabites were not allowed in the squad forever, no cap.

2They didn't show the Israelites any love with food or water, but hired Balaam to throw shade at them: but our God flipped the script and turned the curse into a blessing, fr.

3When they heard the law, they were like, “Nah,” and separated from Israel all the mixed crowd, periodt.

4Before all this, Eliashib the priest was chilling in charge of the God house, and he was tight with Tobiah, sus vibes.

5He set up a huge room for him, where they used to stash the meat offerings, frankincense, and the goods for the Levites and the singers; it was a whole setup, bussin.

6But during all this, I wasn't in Jerusalem; in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I rolled up to the king and got leave, bet.

7I hit Jerusalem and peeped the shady stuff Eliashib was doing for Tobiah, making him a room in God's crib.

8I was not having it, so I yeeted all of Tobiah's stuff out of that room, savage move.

9Then I told them to clean up the chambers and brought back the stuff for God's house, with the meat offering and frankincense, lit.

10I noticed the Levites weren't getting their portions; the workers had dipped to their fields, no cap.

11I was like, "Yo, why's the house of God ghosting us?" So, I gathered the squad and got them sorted.

12Then all of Judah rolled up with their tithes of corn, new wine, and oil for the treasuries.

13I set up Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites as the treasurers, with Hanan, the son of Zaccur, next to them, 'cause they were solid and their job was to dish out to the fam.

14Remember me, God, for real, and don’t erase the good stuff I did for Your house and its duties.

15Back then, I saw some peeps in Judah grinding wine on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves, and loading up donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of stuff, and I called them out for selling food on the Sabbath.

16There were also Tyrian dudes chilling there, bringing fish and all sorts of goods, selling on the Sabbath to the kids of Judah and in Jerusalem.

17I had to confront the nobles of Judah, like, "What’s up with this shady stuff you’re doing, messing with the Sabbath?"

18Didn’t your ancestors do this, and didn’t our God drop some serious consequences on us and this city? Now you’re just adding more drama to Israel by disrespecting the Sabbath.

19So, when the gates of Jerusalem started getting dark before the Sabbath, I told them to shut it down and not open until after the Sabbath; I even had some of my crew posted at the gates to make sure no one brought in stuff on the Sabbath.

20So, the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods were chilling outside Jerusalem, waiting a couple times.

21I called them out, like, "Why y’all chillin’ by the wall? If you do that again, it’s on sight. They didn’t show up no more on the Sabbath, fr."

22I told the Levites to get their act together and keep the gates lit for the Sabbath. Remember me, God, and show me mercy, periodt."

23Back in the day, I saw some Jews marrying Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab girls, like, what’s up with that?"

24Their kids were speaking Ashdod lingo and couldn’t even talk in the Jewish way, just sus."

25I went off on them, cursed them, pulled their hair, and made them swear to God, "Don’t give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for yourselves, no cap."

26Didn’t Solomon, the king of Israel, mess up with this? No other king was like him, loved by God, but even he got played by foreign women."

27So, are we really gonna listen to you and do this savage stuff, going against our God by marrying strange wives?"

28One of Joiada’s sons, Eliashib the high priest’s kid, was tight with Sanballat the Horonite, so I kicked him to the curb."

29Remember them, God, 'cause they messed up the priesthood and the covenant with the Levites."

30I cleaned them up from all the outsiders and set the priests and Levites in their spots, each doing their thing."

31For the wood offering, when it’s time to vibe, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for the good vibes.

1On 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;

2Because 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.

3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

5And 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.

6But 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:

7And 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.

8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9Then 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.

10And 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.

11Then 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.

12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13And 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.

14Remember 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.

15In 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.

16There 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.

17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

18Did 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.

19And 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.

20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21Then 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.

22And 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.

23In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

24And 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.

25And 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.

26Did 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.

27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

28And 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.

29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.