Nehemiah's Final Reforms

13 On that day (A)they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written (B)that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, (C)they separated from Israel all (D)those of foreign descent.

Now before this, (E)Eliashib the priest, who (F)was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to (G)Tobiah, prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, (H)which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for (I)in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes (J)king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, (K)preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I gave orders, and they (L)cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.

10 I also found out that (M)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 (N)to his field. 11 (O)So I confronted the officials and said, (P)“Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. 12 Then all Judah brought (Q)the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 And (R)I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, (S)for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. 14 (T)Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses (U)on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, (V)which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And (W)I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 (X)Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, (Y)profaning the Sabbath day? 18 (Z)Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster[a] on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

19 As soon as it (AA)began to grow 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 stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 (AB)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 (AC)that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. (AD)Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

23 In those days also I saw the Jews (AE)who had married women (AF)of Ashdod, (AG)Ammon, and (AH)Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 (AI)And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. (AJ)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. 26 (AK)Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? (AL)Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was (AM)beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and (AN)act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

28 And one of the sons of (AO)Jehoiada, the son of (AP)Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of (AQ)Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 (AR)Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood (AS)and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 (AT)Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided (AU)for the wood offering (AV)at appointed times, and for the firstfruits.

(AW)Remember me, O my God, for good.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 13:18 The Hebrew word can mean evil, harm, or disaster, depending on the context

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of (A)Ascents. Of David.

133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
    when (B)brothers dwell in unity![a]
It is like the precious (C)oil on (D)the head,
    running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down on (E)the collar of his robes!
It is like (F)the dew of (G)Hermon,
    which falls on (H)the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord (I)has commanded the blessing,
    life forevermore.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 133:1 Or dwell together

Our Heavenly Dwelling

For we know that if (A)the tent that is (B)our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, (C)a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent (D)we groan, longing to (E)put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on[a] we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (F)may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, (G)who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.[b]

So we are always of good courage. We know that (H)while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for (I)we walk by faith, not (J)by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we (K)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to (L)please him. 10 For (M)we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, (N)so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, knowing (O)the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But (P)what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 (Q)We are not commending ourselves to you again but (R)giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we (S)are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ (T)controls us, because we have concluded this: that (U)one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, (V)that those who live might no longer live for themselves but (W)for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, (X)we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is (Y)in Christ, he is (Z)a new creation.[c] (AA)The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, (AB)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us (AC)the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[d] the world to himself, (AD)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us (AE)the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, (AF)we are ambassadors for Christ, (AG)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 (AH)For our sake he made him to be sin (AI)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become (AJ)the righteousness of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Or down payment
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV My Creative Bible--imitation leather, teal
ESV My Creative Bible--imitation leather, teal
Retail: $44.99
Our Price: $25.84
Save: $19.15 (43%)
ESV Study Bible, Large Print, Genuine Leather, Black
ESV Study Bible, Large Print, Genuine Leather, Black
Retail: $129.99
Our Price: $87.99
Save: $42.00 (32%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Black
ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Black
Retail: $12.99
Our Price: $7.49
Save: $5.50 (42%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
Romans, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Romans, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Retail: $6.99
Our Price: $3.07
Save: $3.92 (56%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars