Nehemiah 13

فِي ذلِكَ الْيَوْمِ قُرِئَ فِي سِفْرِ مُوسَى فِي آذَانِ الشَّعْبِ، وَوُجِدَ مَكْتُوبًا فِيهِ أَنَّ عَمُّونِيًّا وَمُوآبِيًّا لاَ يَدْخُلُ فِي جَمَاعَةِ اللهِ إِلَى الأَبَدِ.

On 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;

لأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يُلاَقُوا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ بِالْخُبْزِ وَالْمَاءِ، بَلِ اسْتَأْجَرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بَلْعَامَ لِكَيْ يَلْعَنَهُمْ، وَحَوَّلَ إِلهُنَا اللَّعْنَةَ إِلَى بَرَكَةٍ.

Because 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.

وَلَمَّا سَمِعُوا الشَّرِيعَةَ فَرَزُوا كُلَّ اللَّفِيفِ مِنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

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

وَقَبْلَ هذَا كَانَ أَلْيَاشِيبُ الْكَاهِنُ الْمُقَامُ عَلَى مِخْدَعِ بَيْتِ إِلهِنَا قَرَابَةُ طُوبِيَّا،

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

قَدْ هَيَّأَ لَهُ مِخْدَعًا عَظِيمًا حَيْثُ كَانُوا سَابِقًا يَضَعُونَ التَّقْدِمَاتِ وَالْبَخُورَ وَالآنِيَةَ، وَعُشْرَ الْقَمْحِ وَالْخَمْرِ وَالزَّيْتِ، فَرِيضَةَ اللاََّوِيِّينَ وَالْمُغَنِّينَ وَالْبَوَّابِينَ، وَرَفِيعَةَ الْكَهَنَةِ.

And 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.

وَفِي كُلِّ هذَا لَمْ أَكُنْ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ، لأَنِّي فِي السَّنَةِ الاثْنَتَيْنِ وَالثَّلاَثِينَ لأَرْتَحْشَسْتَا مَلِكِ بَابَِلَ دَخَلْتُ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ، وَبَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ مِنَ الْمَلِكِ

But 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:

وَأَتَيْتُ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ. وَفَهِمْتُ الشَّرَّ الَّذِي عَمِلَهُ أَلْيَاشِيبُ لأَجْلِ طُوبِيَّا، بِعَمَلِهِ لَهُ مِخْدَعًا فِي دِيَارِ بَيْتِ اللهِ.

And 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.

وَسَاءَنِي الأَمْرُ جِدًّا، وَطَرَحْتُ جَمِيعَ آنِيَةِ بَيْتِ طُوبِيَّا خَارِجَ الْمِخْدَعِ،

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

وَأَمَرْتُ فَطَهَّرُوا الْمَخَادِعَ، وَرَدَدْتُ إِلَيْهَا آنِيَةَ بَيْتِ اللهِ مَعَ التَّقْدِمَةِ وَالْبَخُورِ.

Then 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.

وَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّ أَنْصِبَةَ اللاََّوِيِّينَ لَمْ تُعْطَ، بَلْ هَرَبَ اللاََّوِيُّونَ وَالْمُغَنُّونَ عَامِلُو الْعَمَلِ، كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ إِلَى حَقْلِهِ.

And 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.

فَخَاصَمْتُ الْوُلاَةَ وَقُلْتُ: «لِمَاذَا تُرِكَ بَيْتُ اللهِ؟» فَجَمَعْتُهُمْ وَأَوْقَفْتُهُمْ فِي أَمَاكِنِهِمْ.

Then 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.

وَأَتَى كُلُّ يَهُوذَا بِعُشْرِ الْقَمْحِ وَالْخَمْرِ وَالزَّيْتِ إِلَى الْمَخَازِنِ،

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

وَأَقَمْتُ خَزَنَةً عَلَى الْخَزَائِنِ: شَلَمْيَا الْكَاهِنَ وَصَادُوقَ الْكَاتِبَ وَفَدَايَا مِنَ اللاََّوِيِّينَ، وَبِجَانِبِهِمْ حَانَانَ بْنَُ زَكُّورَ بْنِ مَتَّنْيَا لأَنَّهُمْ حُسِبُوا أُمَنَاءَ، وَكَانَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يَقْسِمُوا عَلَى إِخْوَتِهِمْ.

And 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.

اذْكُرْنِي ياإِلهِي مِنْ أَجْلِ هذَا، وَلاَ تَمْحُ حَسَنَاتِي الَّتِي عَمِلْتُهَا نَحْوَ بَيْتِ إِلهِي وَنَحْوَ شَعَائِرِهِ.

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 the offices thereof.

فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ رَأَيْتُ فِي يَهُوذَا قَوْمًا يَدُوسُونَ مَعَاصِرَ فِي السَّبْتِ، وَيَأْتُونَ بِحُزَمٍ وَيُحَمِّلُونَ حَمِيرًا، وَأَيْضًا يَدْخُلُونَ أُورُشَلِيمَ فِي يَوْمِ السَّبْتِ بِخَمْرٍ وَعِنَبٍ وَتِينٍ وَكُلِّ مَا يُحْمَلُ، فَأَشْهَدْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ بَيْعِهِمِ الطَّعَامَ.

In 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.

وَالصُّورِيُّونَ السَّاكِنُونَ بِهَا كَانُوا يَأْتُونَ بِسَمَكٍ وَكُلِّ بِضَاعَةٍ، وَيَبِيعُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ لِبَنِي يَهُوذَا فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ.

There 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.

فَخَاصَمْتُ عُظَمَاءَ يَهُوذَا وَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: «مَا هذَا الأَمْرُ الْقَبِيحُ الَّذِي تَعْمَلُونَهُ وَتُدَنِّسُونَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ؟

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

أَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ آبَاؤُكُمْ هكَذَا فَجَلَبَ إِلهُنَا عَلَيْنَا كُلَّ هذَا الشَّرِّ، وَعَلَى هذِهِ الْمَدِينَةِ؟ وَأَنْتُمْ تَزِيدُونَ غَضَبًا عَلَى إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ تُدَنِّسُونَ السَّبْتَ».

Did 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.

وَكَانَ لَمَّا أَظْلَمَتْ أَبْوَابُ أُورُشَلِيمَ قَبْلَ السَّبْتِ، أَنِّي أَمَرْتُ بِأَنْ تُغْلَقَ الأَبْوَابُ، وَقُلْتُ أَنْ لاَ يَفْتَحُوهَا إِلَى مَا بَعْدَ السَّبْتِ. وَأَقَمْتُ مِنْ غِلْمَانِي عَلَى الأَبْوَابِ حَتَّى لاَ يَدْخُلَ حِمْلٌ فِي يَوْمِ السَّبْتِ.

And 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.

فَبَاتَ التُّجَّارُ وَبَائِعُو كُلِّ بِضَاعَةٍ خَارِجَ أُورُشَلِيمَ مَرَّةً وَاثْنَتَيْنِ.

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

فَأَشْهَدْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: «لِمَاذَا أَنْتُمْ بَائِتُونَ بِجَانِبِ السُّورِ؟ إِنْ عُدْتُمْ فَإِنِّي أُلْقِي يَدًا عَلَيْكُمْ». وَمِنْ ذلِكَ الْوَقْتِ لَمْ يَأْتُوا فِي السَّبْتِ.

Then 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.

وَقُلْتُ لِلاَّوِيِّينَ أَنْ يَتَطَهَّرُوا وَيَأْتُوا وَيَحْرُسُوا الأَبْوَابَ لأَجْلِ تَقْدِيسِ يَوْمِ السَّبْتِ. بِهذَا أَيْضًا اذْكُرْنِي يَا إِلهِي، وَتَرَأَفْ عَلَيَّ حَسَبَ كَثْرَةِ رَحْمَتِكَ.

And 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.

فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ أَيْضًا رَأَيْتُ الْيَهُودَ الَّذِينَ سَاكَنُوا نِسَاءً أَشْدُودِيَّاتٍ وَعَمُّونِيَّاتٍ وَمُوآبِيَّاتٍ.

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

وَنِصْفُ كَلاَمِ بَنِيهِمْ بِاللِّسَانِ الأَشْدُودِيِّ، وَلَمْ يَكُونُوا يُحْسِنُونَ التَّكَلُّمَ بِاللِّسَانِ الْيَهُودِيِّ، بَلْ بِلِسَانِ شَعْبٍ وَشَعْبٍ.

And 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.

فَخَاصَمْتُهُمْ وَلَعَنْتُهُمْ وَضَرَبْتُ مِنْهُمْ أُنَاسًا وَنَتَفْتُ شُعُورَهُمْ، وَاسْتَحْلَفْتُهُمْ بِاللهِ قَائِلاً: «لاَ تُعْطُوا بَنَاتِكُمْ لِبَنِيهِمْ، وَلاَ تَأْخُذُوا مِنْ بَنَاتِهِمْ لِبَنِيكُمْ، وَلاَ لأَنْفُسِكُمْ.

And 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.

أَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَجْلِ هؤُلاَءِ أَخْطَأَ سُلَيْمَانُ مَلِكُ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الأُمَمِ الْكَثِيرَةِ مَلِكٌ مِثْلُهُ؟ وَكَانَ مَحْبُوبًا إِلَى إِلهِهِ، فَجَعَلَهُ اللهُ مَلِكًا علَى كُلِّ إِسْرَائِيلَ. هُوَ أَيْضًا جَعَلَتْهُ النِّسَاءُ الأَجْنَبِيَّاتُ يُخْطِئُ.

Did 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.

فَهَلْ نَسْكُتُ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْمَلُوا كُلَّ هذَا الشَّرِّ الْعَظِيمِ بِالْخِيَانَةِ ضِدَّ إِلهِنَا بِمُسَاكَنَةِ نِسَاءٍ أَجْنَبِيَّاتٍ؟»

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

وَكَانَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْ بَنِي يُويَادَاعَ بْنِ أَلْيَاشِيبَ الْكَاهِنِ الْعَظِيمِ صِهْرًا لِسَنْبَلَّطَ الْحُورُونِيِّ، فَطَرَدْتُهُ مِنْ عِنْدِي.

And 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.

اذْكُرْهُمْ يَا إِلهِي، لأَنَّهُمْ نَجَّسُوا الْكَهَنُوتَ وَعَهْدَ الْكَهَنُوتِ وَاللاََّوِيِّينَ.

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

فَطَهَّرْتُهُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ غَرِيبٍ، وَأَقَمْتُ حِرَاسَاتِ الْكَهَنَةِ وَاللاََّوِيِّينَ، كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ عَلَى عَمَلِهِ،

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

وَلأَجْلِ قُرْبَانِ الْحَطَبِ فِي أَزْمِنَةٍ مُعَيَّنَةٍ وَلِلْبَاكُورَاتِ. فَاذْكُرْنِي يَا إِلهِي بِالْخَيْرِ.

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