Liber Nehemiae, 13

1. In die autem illo lectum est in volumine Moysi, audiente populo, et inventum est scriptum in eo quod non debeant introire Ammonites et Moabites in ecclesiam Dei usque in aeternum,

1. On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God;

2. eo quod non occurrerint filiis Israel cum pane et aqua et conduxerint adversum eos Balaam ad maledicendum eis, et convertit Deus noster maledictionem in benedictionem.

2. for they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them -- yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3. Factum est autem, cum audissent legem, separaverunt omnem promiscuum ab Israel.

3. When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

4. Ante hoc autem erat Eliasib sacerdos, qui fuerat praepositus in gazophylacio domus Dei nostri et proximus Thobiae;

4. Now before this, Eli'ashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was connected with Tobi'ah,

5. fecerat ei gazophylacium grande, ubi antea reponebant munera et tus et vasa et decimam frumenti, vini et olei, partes Levitarum et cantorum et ianitorum et tributa sacerdotum.

5. prepared for Tobi'ah a large chamber where they had previously put the cereal offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

6. In omnibus autem his non fui in Ierusalem, quia anno tricesimo secundo Artaxerxis regis Babylonis veni ad regem et in fine dierum rogavi, ut abirem a rege,

6. While this was taking place I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx'es king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king

7. et veni in Ierusalem. Et intellexi malum, quod fecerat Eliasib Thobiae: fecerat enim ei thesaurum in vestibulis domus Dei.

7. and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eli'ashib had done for Tobi'ah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8. Et malum mihi visum est valde, et proieci vasa domus Thobiae foras de gazophylacio;

8. And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobi'ah out of the chamber.

9. praecepique, et emundaverunt gazophylacia, et rettuli ibi vasa domus Dei, oblationem et tus.

9. Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back thither the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offering and the frankincense.

10. Et cognovi quod partes Levitarum non fuissent datae, et fugisset unusquisque in campum suum de Levitis et cantoribus, qui ministrabant.

10. I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.

11. Et egi causam adversus magistratus et dixi: “Quare dereliquimus domum Dei?”. Et congregavi eos et feci stare in stationibus suis.

11. So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.

12. Et omnis Iuda apportabat decimam frumenti, vini et olei in horrea.

12. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.

13. Et constitui super horrea Selemiam sacerdotem et Sadoc scribam et Phadaiam de Levitis et iuxta eos Hanan filium Zacchur, filium Matthaniae, quoniam fideles comprobati sunt; et ipsi curam habebant distribuendi partes fratribus suis.

13. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemi'ah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedai'ah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattani'ah, for they were counted faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their brethren.

14. Memento mei, Deus meus, pro hoc; et ne deleas opera mea bona, quae feci in domo Dei mei et in ministeriis eius!

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 his service.

15. In diebus illis vidi in Iuda calcantes torcularia in sabbato, portantes acervos et onerantes super asinos vinum et uvas et ficus et omne onus et inferentes in Ierusalem die sabbati; et contestatus sum, quando vendebant cibaria.

15. In those days I saw in Judah men treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on asses; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them on the day when they sold food.

16. Et ibi Tyrii habitaverunt in ea inferentes pisces et omnia venalia et vendebant in sabbatis filiis Iudae in Ierusalem.

16. Men of Tyre also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of wares and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17. Et obiurgavi optimates Iudae et dixi eis: “Quae est haec res mala, quam vos facitis, et profanatis diem sabbati?

17. Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing which you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?

18. Numquid non haec fecerunt patres nostri, et adduxit Deus noster super nos omne malum hoc et super civitatem hanc? Et vos additis iracundiam super Israel profanando sabbatum!”.

18. Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath."

19. Factum est autem, cum obscuratae essent portae Ierusalem ante diem sabbati, dixi, et clauserunt ianuas; et praecepi, ut non aperirent eas usque post sabbatum. Et de pueris meis constitui super portas, ut nullus inferret onus in die sabbati.

19. When it began to be dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden might be brought in on the sabbath day.

20. Et manserunt negotiatores et vendentes universa venalia foris Ierusalem semel et bis.

20. Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21. Et contestatus sum eos et dixi eis: “Quare manetis ex adverso muri? Si iterum hoc feceritis, manum mittam in vos”. Itaque ex tempore illo non venerunt in sabbato.

21. But I warned them and said to them, "Why do you lodge before the wall? If you do so again I will lay hands on you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.

22. Dixi quoque Levitis, ut mundarentur et venirent ad custodiendas portas et sanctificandam diem sabbati. Et pro hoc ergo memento mei, Deus meus, et parce mihi secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum!

22. And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of thy steadfast love.

23. Sed et in diebus illis vidi Iudaeos, qui duxerant uxores Azotidas, Ammonitidas et Moabitidas.

23. In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab;

24. Et filii eorum ex media parte loquebantur Azotice et nesciebant loqui Iudaice vel loquebantur iuxta linguam unius vel alterius populi.

24. and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but the language of each people.

25. Et obiurgavi eos et maledixi et cecidi quosdam ex eis et decalvavi eos; et adiuravi in Deo, ut non darent filias suas filiis eorum et non acciperent de filiabus eorum filiis suis et sibimetipsis dicens:

25. And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

26. “Numquid non in huiuscemodi re peccavit Salomon rex Israel? Et certe in gentibus multis non erat rex similis ei, et dilectus Deo suo erat, et posuit eum Deus regem super omnem Israel; et ipsum ergo duxerunt ad peccatum mulieres alienigenae.

26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless foreign women made even him to sin.

27. Numquid et vobis obsequentes faciemus omne malum grande hoc, ut praevaricemur in Deo nostro et ducamus uxores peregrinas?”.

27. Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?"

28. Unus autem de filiis Ioiada filii Eliasib sacerdotis magni gener erat Sanaballat Horonites, quem fugavi a me.

28. And one of the sons of Jehoi'ada, the son of Eli'ashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanbal'lat the Hor'onite; therefore I chased him from me.

29. Recordare, Domine Deus meus, adversum eos, qui polluunt sacerdotium et pactum sacerdotale et leviticum!

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

30. Igitur mundavi eos ab omnibus alienigenis et constitui ordines pro sacerdotibus et Levitis, unumquemque in ministerio suo,

30. Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work;

31. et pro oblatione lignorum in temporibus constitutis et pro primitiis. Memento mei, Deus meus, in bonum.

31. and I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.