¹⁵ In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses ^(A)on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, ^(B)which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And ^(C)I warned them on the day when they sold food.

^17 (A)Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, ^(B)profaning the Sabbath day?

^21 (A)But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside 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 Then I commanded the Levites ^(A)that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. ^(B)Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

^25 (A)And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. ^(B)And I made them take an 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.

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