Nehemiah

Chapter 13

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּayּ֣om hah֗u niqera֛ bּese֥per moshshe֖h bּe'azene֣y ha'a֑m venimetza'֙ kּat֣ub bּ֔o 'a֠shsher lo'-yab֨o 'amּoni֧y umo'abi֛y bּiqeha֥l ha'elohi֖ym 'ad-'olaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נִקְרָ֛א בְּסֵ֥פֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְנִמְצָא֙ כָּת֣וּב בּ֔וֹ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹא־יָב֨וֹא עַמֹּנִ֧י וּמֹאָבִ֛י בִּקְהַ֥ל הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֣y lo֧ qidּem֛u 'et-bּene֥y yishsera'e֖l bּalּe֣chem ubamּa֑yim vayּishsekּo֨r 'ala֤yv 'et-bּile'am֙ leqaֽlel֔o vayּahapo֧ke 'elohe֛ynu haqּelala֖h liberakaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)

כִּ֣י לֹ֧א קִדְּמ֛וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּלֶּ֣חֶם וּבַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר עָלָ֤יו אֶת־בִּלְעָם֙ לְקַֽלְל֔וֹ וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֖y kּeshshame'a֣m 'et-hatּora֑h vayּabedּi֥ylu kal-'e֖reb miyּishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.

וַיְהִ֖י כְּשָׁמְעָ֣ם אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֑ה וַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּ כָל־עֵ֖רֶב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): velipene֣y mizּe֔h 'eleyashshiyb֙ hakּohe֔n nat֖un bּelishshekּa֣t bּeyt-'elohe֑ynu qar֖ob letobiyּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah,

וְלִפְנֵ֣י מִזֶּ֔ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נָת֖וּן בְּלִשְׁכַּ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ קָר֖וֹב לְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֨'ashs l֜o lishshekּa֣h gedola֗h veshsha֣m hay֪u lepani֟ym no֠teniym 'et-hamּinecha֨h halּebona֜h vehakּeli֗ym uma'eshsa֤r hadּagan֙ hatּiyr֣oshsh vehayּitzeha֔r mitzevat֙ haleviyּi֔m vehameshshoreri֖ym vehashshּo'ari֑ym uteruma֖t hakּohaniֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, together with the contributions for the priests.

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֜וֹ לִשְׁכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה וְשָׁ֣ם הָי֪וּ לְפָנִ֟ים נֹ֠תְנִים אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֨ה הַלְּבוֹנָ֜ה וְהַכֵּלִ֗ים וּמַעְשַׂ֤ר הַדָּגָן֙ הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר מִצְוַת֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים וּתְרוּמַ֖ת הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ubekal-ze֕h lo֥ hayi֖ytiy bּiֽyrushshala֑im kּi֡y bּishshenat֩ shsheloshshi֨ym ushshetּa֜yim le'aretּacheshsha֤setּe meֽleke-bּabel֙ bּa֣'tiy 'el-hamּe֔leke uleqe֥tz yami֖ym nishshe'a֥letּiy min-hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission

וּבְכָל־זֶ֕ה לֹ֥א הָיִ֖יתִי בִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כִּ֡י בִּשְׁנַת֩ שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וּשְׁתַּ֜יִם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּא מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ בָּ֣אתִי אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְקֵ֥ץ יָמִ֖ים נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּי מִן־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ab֖o liֽyrushshala֑im va'abi֣ynah bara'a֗h 'ashshe֨r 'ashsa֤h 'eleyashshiyb֙ let֣obiyּa֔h la'ashs֥ot lo֙ nishshekּa֔h bּechatzere֖y bּe֥yt ha'elohiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courtyards of the house of God.

וָאָב֖וֹא לִֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וָאָבִ֣ינָה בָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ לְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לוֹ֙ נִשְׁכָּ֔ה בְּחַצְרֵ֖י בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּe֥raֽ li֖y me'o֑d vֽa'ashsheli֜ykah 'eֽt-kּal-kּele֧y beyt-tobiyּa֛h hach֖utz min-halּishshekּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.

וַיֵּ֥רַֽע לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד וָֽאַשְׁלִ֜יכָה אֶֽת־כָּל־כְּלֵ֧י בֵית־טוֹבִיָּ֛ה הַח֖וּץ מִן־הַלִּשְׁכָּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'o֣mera֔h vaֽyetahar֖u halּeshshak֑ot va'ashshi֣ybah shshּa֗m kּeley֙ bּe֣yt ha'elohi֔ym 'et-hamּinecha֖h vehalּebonaֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.

וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה וַֽיְטַהֲר֖וּ הַלְּשָׁכ֑וֹת וָאָשִׁ֣יבָה שָּׁ֗ם כְּלֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֖ה וְהַלְּבוֹנָֽה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'e֣de'a֔h kּiֽy-menay֥ot haleviyּi֖m lo֣ nitּa֑nah vayּiberech֧u 'iyshsh-leshsade֛hu haleviyּi֥m vehameshshoreri֖ym 'oshse֥y hamּela'kaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.

וָאֵ֣דְעָ֔ה כִּֽי־מְנָי֥וֹת הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לֹ֣א נִתָּ֑נָה וַיִּבְרְח֧וּ אִישׁ־לְשָׂדֵ֛הוּ הַלְוִיִּ֥ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים עֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ari֨ybah֙ 'et-hasּegani֔ym va'o֣mera֔h madּ֖u'a ne'eza֣b bּeyt-ha'elohi֑ym vaֽ'e֨qebּetze֔m vaֽ'a'amide֖m 'al-'amedaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

וָאָרִ֨יבָה֙ אֶת־הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה מַדּ֖וּעַ נֶעֱזַ֣ב בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וָֽאֶ֨קְבְּצֵ֔ם וָֽאַעֲמִדֵ֖ם עַל־עָמְדָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vekal-yehuda֗h hebi֜y'u ma'eshsa֧r hadּaga֛n vehatּiyr֥oshsh vehayּitzeha֖r la'otzarֽot׃

Edified Edition (EDE)All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.

וְכָל־יְהוּדָ֗ה הֵבִ֜יאוּ מַעְשַׂ֧ר הַדָּגָ֛ן וְהַתִּיר֥וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֖ר לָאוֹצָרֽוֹת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'otzera֣h 'al-'֠otzarot shshelemeya֨h hakּohe֜n vetzad֣oq hasּope֗r upedayah֙ min-haleviyּi֔m ve'al-yada֔m chana֥n bּen-zakּ֖ur bּen-matּaneya֑h kּi֤y ne'emaniym֙ necheshsha֔bu va'aleyhe֖m lachalo֥q la'acheyheֽm׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because these men were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

וָאוֹצְרָ֣ה עַל־א֠וֹצָרוֹת שֶׁלֶמְיָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וְצָד֣וֹק הַסּוֹפֵ֗ר וּפְדָיָה֙ מִן־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְעַל־יָדָ֔ם חָנָ֥ן בֶּן־זַכּ֖וּר בֶּן־מַתַּנְיָ֑ה כִּ֤י נֶאֱמָנִים֙ נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ וַעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לַחֲלֹ֥ק לַאֲחֵיהֶֽם׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): zakerah-lּi֥y 'eloha֖y 'al-zo֑'t ve'al-tּe֣mach chasada֗y 'ashshe֥r 'ashsi֛ytiy bּebe֥yt 'eloha֖y ubemishshemaraֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

זָכְרָה־לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י עַל־זֹ֑את וְאַל־תֶּ֣מַח חֲסָדַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֛יתִי בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹהַ֖י וּבְמִשְׁמָרָֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּayּami֣ym hahe֡mּah ra'i֣ytiy biֽyhuda֣h ׀ dּoֽrekiֽym-gּitּ֣ot ׀ bּashshּabּa֡t umebiy'i֣ym ha'arem֣ot veֽ'omesi֪ym 'al-hachamori֟ym ve'ap-ya֜yin 'anabi֤ym ute'eniym֙ vekal-mashsּa֔ umebiy'i֥ym yerushshala֖im bּey֣om hashshּabּa֑t va'a'i֕yd bּey֖om mikera֥m tzaֽyid׃

Edified Edition (EDE)In those days I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֡מָּה רָאִ֣יתִי בִֽיהוּדָ֣ה ׀ דֹּֽרְכִֽים־גִּתּ֣וֹת ׀ בַּשַּׁבָּ֡ת וּמְבִיאִ֣ים הָעֲרֵמ֣וֹת וְֽעֹמְסִ֪ים עַל־הַחֲמֹרִ֟ים וְאַף־יַ֜יִן עֲנָבִ֤ים וּתְאֵנִים֙ וְכָל־מַשָּׂ֔א וּמְבִיאִ֥ים יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בְּי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וָאָעִ֕יד בְּי֖וֹם מִכְרָ֥ם צָֽיִד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehatzּoriym֙ ya֣shshebu ba֔hּ mebiy'i֥ym dּa֖'g vekal-me֑ker umokeri֧ym bּashshּabּa֛t libene֥y yehuda֖h ubiyrushshalaiֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

וְהַצֹּרִים֙ יָ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֔הּ מְבִיאִ֥ים דָּ֖אג וְכָל־מֶ֑כֶר וּמֹכְרִ֧ים בַּשַּׁבָּ֛ת לִבְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ari֕ybah 'e֖t chore֣y yehuda֑h va'omera֣h lahe֗m maֽh-hadּaba֨r hara֤ hazּeh֙ 'ashshe֣r 'atּe֣m 'oshsi֔ym uֽmechalּeli֖ym 'et-y֥om hashshּabּaֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

וָאָרִ֕יבָה אֵ֖ת חֹרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֨ר הָרָ֤ע הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים וּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖ים אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): hal֨o ko֤h 'ashsu֙ 'abo֣teyke֔m vayּabe֨ 'elohe֜ynu 'ale֗ynu 'e֚t kּal-hara'a֣h hazּo֔'t ve'a֖l ha'i֣yr hazּo֑'t ve'atּe֞m mosiypi֤ym charon֙ 'al-yishsera'e֔l lechalּe֖l 'et-hashshּabּaֽt׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)"Didn't your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

הֲל֨וֹא כֹ֤ה עָשׂוּ֙ אֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וַיָּבֵ֨א אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ עָלֵ֗ינוּ אֵ֚ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְעַ֖ל הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְאַתֶּ֞ם מוֹסִיפִ֤ים חָרוֹן֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְחַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֡y kּa'ashshe֣r tzaֽlalu֩ shsha'are֨y yerushshalai֜m lipene֣y hashshּabּa֗t va'oֽmerah֙ vayּisּager֣u hadּelat֔ot va'o֣mera֔h 'ashsher֙ lo֣ yipetּach֔um 'a֖d 'acha֣r hashshּabּa֑t uminּe'ara֗y hֽe'ema֨detּiy֙ 'al-hashshּe'ari֔ym lo'-yab֥o mashsּa֖ bּey֥om hashshּabּaֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

וַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צָֽלֲלוּ֩ שַׁעֲרֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לִפְנֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת וָאֹֽמְרָה֙ וַיִּסָּגְר֣וּ הַדְּלָת֔וֹת וָאֹ֣מְרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִפְתָּח֔וּם עַ֖ד אַחַ֣ר הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וּמִנְּעָרַ֗י הֶֽעֱמַ֨דְתִּי֙ עַל־הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים לֹא־יָב֥וֹא מַשָּׂ֖א בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּali֨ynu harokeli֜ym umokere֧y kal-mimekּa֛r mich֥utz liyrushshala֖im pּa֥'am ushshetּaֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.

וַיָּלִ֨ינוּ הָרֹכְלִ֜ים וּמֹכְרֵ֧י כָל־מִמְכָּ֛ר מִח֥וּץ לִירוּשָׁלִָ֖ם פַּ֥עַם וּשְׁתָּֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'a'i֣ydah bahe֗m va'omera֤h 'aleyhem֙ madּ֜u'a 'atּe֤m leniym֙ ne֣ged hachoma֔h 'im-tּishshen֕u ya֖d 'eshshela֣ch bּake֑m min-ha'e֣t hahi֔y lo'-ba֖'u bּashshּabּaֽt׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)But I warned them and said, "Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath.

וָאָעִ֣ידָה בָהֶ֗ם וָאֹמְרָ֤ה אֲלֵיהֶם֙ מַדּ֜וּעַ אַתֶּ֤ם לֵנִים֙ נֶ֣גֶד הַחוֹמָ֔ה אִם־תִּשְׁנ֕וּ יָ֖ד אֶשְׁלַ֣ח בָּכֶ֑ם מִן־הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא לֹא־בָ֖אוּ בַּשַּׁבָּֽת׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'omera֣h laleviyּi֗m 'ashshe֨r yiֽhey֤u miֽtּahariym֙ uba'iym֙ shshomeri֣ym hashshּe'ari֔ym leqadּe֖shsh 'et-y֣om hashshּabּa֑t gּam-zo't֙ zakerah-lּi֣y 'eloha֔y vech֥usah 'ala֖y kּero֥b chasedּeֽka׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִֽהְי֤וּ מִֽטַּהֲרִים֙ וּבָאִים֙ שֹׁמְרִ֣ים הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים לְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת גַּם־זֹאת֙ זָכְרָה־לִּ֣י אֱלֹהַ֔י וְח֥וּסָה עָלַ֖י כְּרֹ֥ב חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֣m ׀ bּayּami֣ym hahe֗m ra'i֤ytiy 'et-hayּehudiym֙ hoshshi֗ybu nashshiym֙ 'shdvdyvt 'ashshedּodiyּ֔ot 'mvnyvt 'amּoniyּ֖ot mo'abiyּֽot׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.

גַּ֣ם ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִים֙ הֹשִׁ֗יבוּ נָשִׁים֙ אשדודיות אַשְׁדֳּדִיּ֔וֹת עמוניות עַמֳּנִיּ֖וֹת מוֹאֲבִיּֽוֹת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ubeneyhe֗m chatziy֙ medabּe֣r 'ashshedּodi֔yt ve'eyna֥m makּiyri֖ym ledabּe֣r yehudi֑yt vekileshsh֖on 'a֥m va'aֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah.

וּבְנֵיהֶ֗ם חֲצִי֙ מְדַבֵּ֣ר אַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית וְאֵינָ֥ם מַכִּירִ֖ים לְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוּדִ֑ית וְכִלְשׁ֖וֹן עַ֥ם וָעָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ari֤yb 'imּam֙ va'aqaֽlele֔m va'akּe֥h mehe֛m 'anashshi֖ym vaֽ'emerete֑m va'ashshebּiy'e֣m bּeֽ'lohi֗ym 'im-tּitּen֤u benoֽteykem֙ libeneyhe֔m ve'im-tּishse'u֙ mibּeno֣teyhe֔m libeneyke֖m velakeֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I struck some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God's name and said: "You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.

וָאָרִ֤יב עִמָּם֙ וָאֲקַֽלְלֵ֔ם וָאַכֶּ֥ה מֵהֶ֛ם אֲנָשִׁ֖ים וָֽאֶמְרְטֵ֑ם וָאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣ם בֵּֽאלֹהִ֗ים אִם־תִּתְּנ֤וּ בְנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ לִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְאִם־תִּשְׂאוּ֙ מִבְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֖ם וְלָכֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): hal֣o 'al-'e֣lּeh chataֽ'-shshelomo֣h me֣leke yishsera'e֡l ubagּoyi֣m harabּiym֩ loֽ'-haya֨h me֜leke kּamo֗hu ve'ah֤ub leֽ'lohayv֙ haya֔h vayּitּene֣hu 'elohi֔ym me֖leke 'al-kּal-yishsera'e֑l gּam-'ot֣o hecheti֔y'u hanּashshi֖ym hanּakeriyּֽot׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.

הֲל֣וֹא עַל־אֵ֣לֶּה חָטָֽא־שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל וּבַגּוֹיִ֣ם הָרַבִּים֩ לֹֽא־הָיָ֨ה מֶ֜לֶךְ כָּמֹ֗הוּ וְאָה֤וּב לֵֽאלֹהָיו֙ הָיָ֔ה וַיִּתְּנֵ֣הוּ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל גַּם־אוֹת֣וֹ הֶחֱטִ֔יאוּ הַנָּשִׁ֖ים הַנָּכְרִיּֽוֹת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): velake֣m hanishshema֗ la'ashsot֙ 'e֣t kּal-hara'a֤h hagּedolah֙ hazּo֔'t lime'o֖l bּeֽ'lohe֑ynu lehoshshi֖yb nashshi֥ym nakeriyּֽot׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?"

וְלָכֶ֣ם הֲנִשְׁמַ֗ע לַעֲשֹׂת֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את לִמְעֹ֖ל בֵּֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְהֹשִׁ֖יב נָשִׁ֥ים נָכְרִיּֽוֹת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): umibּene֨y yoyada֤ bּen-'eleyashshiyb֙ hakּohe֣n hagּad֔ol chata֖n lesanebalּa֣t hachoroni֑y va'aberiyche֖hu me'alaֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.

וּמִבְּנֵ֨י יוֹיָדָ֤ע בֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל חָתָ֖ן לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֑י וָאַבְרִיחֵ֖הוּ מֵעָלָֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): zakera֥h lahe֖m 'eloha֑y 'a֚l gּa'ole֣y hakּehunּa֔h uberi֥yt hakּehunּa֖h vehaleviyּiֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

זָכְרָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם אֱלֹהָ֑י עַ֚ל גָּאֳלֵ֣י הַכְּהֻנָּ֔ה וּבְרִ֥ית הַכְּהֻנָּ֖ה וְהַלְוִיִּֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vetiֽharetּi֖ym mikּal-neka֑r va'a'ami֧ydah mishshemar֛ot lakּohani֥ym velaleviyּi֖m 'i֥yshsh bּimela'ketּֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task.

וְטִֽהַרְתִּ֖ים מִכָּל־נֵכָ֑ר וָאַעֲמִ֧ידָה מִשְׁמָר֛וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ בִּמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ulequrebּa֧n ha'etzi֛ym bּe'itּi֥ym mezumּan֖ot velabּikּuri֑ym zakerah-lּi֥y 'eloha֖y letobaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favour, my God. The wall and the soul were together once more.

וּלְקֻרְבַּ֧ן הָעֵצִ֛ים בְּעִתִּ֥ים מְזֻמָּנ֖וֹת וְלַבִּכּוּרִ֑ים זָכְרָה־לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י לְטוֹבָֽה׃