Nehemiah 13:17–20

¹¹Then 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.

¹¹Then 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.

²⁵And 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.

²⁵And I contended with them, and ^‖cursed them, and smote certeine of them, and pluckt off their haire, and made them sweare by God, saying, Yee shall not giue your daughters vnto their sonnes, nor take their daughters vnto your sonnes, or for your selues.

¹⁰¶ Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

¹⁰¶ Heare the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom, giue eare vnto the Law of our God, yee people of Gomorrah.

¹⁸Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

^18‖Say vnto the king, and to the queene, Humble your selues, sit downe, for your principalities shall come downe, euen the crowne of your glory.

²And say, Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

³Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

⁴For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.

⁵But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

⁶For thus saith the Lord unto the king’s house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.

⁷And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.

⁸And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this great city?

⁹Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.

¹⁰¶ Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

¹¹For thus saith the Lord touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:

¹²But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.

¹³¶ Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;

¹⁴That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

¹⁵Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?

¹⁶He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.

¹⁷But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

¹⁸Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!

¹⁹He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

²⁰¶ Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.

²¹I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.

²²The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

²³O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

²And say, Heare the word of the LORD, O king of Iudah, that sittest vpon the throne of Dauid, thou, and thy seruants, and thy people that enter in by these gates.

^3*Thus saith the LORD, Execute ye iudgement and righteousnesse, and deliuer the spoiler out of the hand of the oppressour: and doe no wrong, doe no violence to the stranger, the fatherlesse, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

^4*†For if ye doe this thing indeede, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house, Kings sitting vpon the throne of Dauid, riding in charets and on horses, he, and his seruants, and his people.

⁵But if yee will not heare these words, I sweare by my selfe, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

⁶For thus saith the LORD vnto the kings house of Iudah, Thou art Gilead vnto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wildernesse, and cities which are not inhabited.

⁷And I will prepare destroyers against thee, euery one with his weapons, and they shall cut downe thy choise cedars, and cast them into the fire.

^8*And many nations shall passe by this citie, and they shall say euery man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus vnto this great citie?

⁹Then they shall answere, Because they haue forsaken the couenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and serued them.

¹⁰¶ Weepe ye not for the dead, neither bemoane him, but weepe sore for him that goeth away: for he shall returne no more, nor see his natiue countrey.

¹¹For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum, the sonne of Iosiah king of Iudah which reigned in stead of Iosiah his father, which went forth out of this place, He shall not returne thither any more.

¹²But he shall die in the place whither they haue led him captiue, and shal see this land no more.

¹³¶ ^*Woe vnto him that buildeth his house by vnrighteousnesse, and his chambers by wrong: that vseth his neighbours seruice without wages, and giueth him not for his worke:

^14†‖That saith, I will build mee a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windowes, and it is sieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

¹⁵Shalt thou reigne because thou closest thy selfe in cedar? did not thy father eate and drinke, and doe iudgment and iustice, and then it was wel with him?

¹⁶He iudged the cause of the poore and needy, then it was well with him: was not this to know me, saith the LORD?

^17‖But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy couetousnesse, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence to doe it.

¹⁸Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Iehoiakim the sonne of Iosiah king of Iudah, They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother, or ah sister: they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah LORD, or ah his glory.

¹⁹He shall be buried with the buriall of an asse, drawen and cast forth beyond the gates of Ierusalem.

²⁰¶ Goe vp to Lebanon, and crie, and lift vp thy voice in Bashan, and crie from the passages: for all thy louers are destroyed.

^21†I spake vnto thee in thy prosperitie, but thou saidest, I will not heare: this hath bin thy maner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.

²²The winde shall eate vp all thy pastors, and thy louers shall goe into captiuitie, surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickednesse.

^23†O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the Cedars, how gracious shalt thou bee when pangs come vpon thee, the paine as of a woman in trauell?

⁵I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

⁵I wil get me vnto the great men, and will speake vnto them, for they haue knowen the way of the LORD, and the iudgement of their God: but these haue altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bondes.

¹AND I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

¹¶ And I said, Heare, I pray you, O heads of Iacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know iudgement?

⁹Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.

⁹Heare this, I pray you, yee heads of the house of Iacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhorre iudgement and peruert all equitie.

⁷Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

⁷Then ^†I consulted with my selfe, and I rebuked the Nobles, and the rulers, and said vnto them, You exact vsurie, euery one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them:

⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁴They that forsake the law, praise the wicked: but such as keepe the Law, contend with them.

¹GOD standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

²How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

¹¶ God standeth in the Congregation of the mightie: hee iudgeth among the gods.

^2*How long will yee iudge vniustly: and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

²¹Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

²²Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

²³But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

^21*Thus saith the LORD, Take heed to your selues, and beare no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Ierusalem.

^22*Neither carie forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither doe ye any worke, but hallowe ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

²³But they obeyed not, neither inclined their eare, but made their necke stiffe, that they might not heare nor receiue instruction.

²⁶They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.

^26†They shall also strippe thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy faire iewels.

⁸Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.

⁸Neither left she her whoredomes brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginitie, and powred their whoredome vpon her.

¹³And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;

¹⁴Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

¹⁵O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

¹³And after all that is come vpon vs, for our euill deeds, and for our great trespasse, seeing that thou, our God, ^†hast punished vs lesse, then our iniquities deserue, and hast giuen vs such deliuerance as this:

¹⁴Should wee againe breake thy commandements, and ioyne in affinitie with the people of these abominations? wouldest thou not be angry with vs, til thou haddest consumed vs, so that there should be no remnant, nor escaping?

¹⁵O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous, for wee remaine yet escaped, as it is this day: Behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for wee can not stand before thee, because of this.

²⁷But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

²⁷But if you will not hearken vnto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to beare a burden, euen entring in at the gates of Ierusalem on the Sabbath day: then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall deuoure the palaces of Ierusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

⁹Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?

^9†Haue ye forgotten the wickednes of your fathers, and the wickednesse of the kings of Iudah, and the wickednes of their wiues, and your owne wickednesse, and the wickednesse of your wiues, which they haue committed in the land of Iudah, and in the streets of Ierusalem?

¹⁷Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord,

¹⁸But that ye must turn away this day from following the Lord? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the Lord, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

¹⁷ Is the iniquitie ^*of Peor too litle for vs, from which we are not cleansed vntil this day, (although there was a plague in the Congregation of the LORD)

¹⁸But that ye must turne away this day from following the LORD? And it will be, seeing yee rebell to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole Congregation of Israel.

¹⁸And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

¹⁸And if ye will not yet for all this hearken vnto me, then I will punish you seuen times more for your sinnes.

²⁸Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

²⁸Then I wil walke contrary vnto you also in fury, and I, euen I will chastise you seuen times for your sinnes.

¹⁴And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward Israel.

¹⁴And beholde, ye are risen vp in your fathers stead, an increase of sinfull men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

⁴Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.

⁵Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

⁶But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

^4*Be ye not as your fathers, vnto whom the former Prophets haue cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hostes, Turne ye now from your euill wayes, and from your euil doings: but they did not heare, nor hearken vnto me, saith the LORD.

⁵Your fathers, where are they? and the Prophets, doe they liue for euer?

⁶But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my seruants the Prophets, did they not ^‖take holde of your fathers? and they returned and saide; ^*Like as the LORD of hostes thought to doe vnto vs, according to our wayes, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with vs.

²²So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.

²²So that the LORD could no longer beare, because of the euill of your doings, and because of the abominations, which yee haue committed: therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse without an inhabitant, as at this day.

³²It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

³²It shalbe vnto you a Sabbath of rest, and yee shall afflict your soules in the ninth day of the moneth at Euen, from Euen vnto Euen shall ye ^†celebrate your Sabbath.

¹⁴Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

¹⁵Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

¹⁶Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

¹⁷It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

^14*Yee shall keepe the Sabbath therefore: for it is holy vnto you: Euery one that defileth it, shall surely be put to death: for whosoeuer doth any worke therein, that soule shall be cut off from amongst his people.

¹⁵Sixe dayes may worke bee done, but in the seuenth is the Sabbath of rest, ^†holy to the LORD: whosoeuer doth any worke in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

¹⁶Wherefore the children of Israel shall keepe the Sabbath, to obserue the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetuall couenant.

¹⁷It is a signe betweene me and the children of Israel for euer: for ^* in sixe dayes the LORD made heauen and earth, and on the seuenth day he rested, and was refreshed.

¹⁹¶ Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;

²⁰And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:

²¹Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

²²Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

¹⁹¶ Thus sayd the LORD vnto me, Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Iudah come in, and by the which they goe out, and in all the gates of Ierusalem.

²⁰And say vnto them, Heare ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Iudah, and all Iudah, and all the inhabitants of Ierusalem, that enter in by these gates.

^21*Thus saith the LORD, Take heed to your selues, and beare no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Ierusalem.

^22*Neither carie forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither doe ye any worke, but hallowe ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

²²¶ And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

²²¶ And ^*when ye reape the haruest of your land, thou shalt not make cleane riddance of the corners of the field, when thou reapest, ^*neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy haruest: thou shalt leaue them vnto the poore, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

³And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.

³And I said vnto them, Let not the gates of Ierusalem be opened, vntill the Sunne bee hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doores, and barre them. And appoint watches of the inhabitants of Ierusalem, euery one in his wateh, and euery one to bee ouer against his house.