Nehemiah 13:23–27

¹NOW when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

²For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

¹¶ Nowe when these things were done, the Princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Leuites, haue not separated themselues from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, euen of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Iebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

²For they haue taken of their daughters for themselues, and for their sonnes: so that the holy seed haue mingled themselues with the people of those lands, yea the hand of the princes and rulers hath bin chiefe in this trespasse.

¹⁰And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

¹⁰And Ezra the Priest stood vp, and said vnto them, Yee haue transgressed, and ^†haue taken strange wiues, to encrease the trespasse of Israel.

³⁰And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

³⁰And that we would not giue ^*our daughters vnto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sonnes.

¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

¹⁴Be ye not vnequally yoked together with vnbeleeuers: for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? and what communion hath light with darknesse?

¹ON 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;

¹¶ On that day ^†they read in the ^*booke 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 euer,

⁴⁴All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

⁴⁴All these had taken strange wiues: and some of them had wiues, by whom they had children.

¹AND the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.

¹¶ And the Philistines tooke the Arke of God, and brought it from Ebenezer vnto Ashdod.

¹¹Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

¹²Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

¹¹Which thou hast commanded by ^†thy seruants the prophets, saying, ^*The land vnto which ye go to possesse it, is an vncleane land, with the filthinesse of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which haue filled it ^†from one end to another, with their vncleannesse.

¹²Nowe therefore giue not your daughters vnto their sonnes, neither take their daughters vnto your sonnes, nor seeke their peace or their wealth for euer: that ye may bee strong, and eate the good of the land, and leaue it for an inheritance to your children for euer.

⁷¶ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

⁷¶ But it came to passe that when Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walles of Ierusalem ^†were made vp, and that the breaches began to bee stopped, then they were very wroth,

⁹For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.

⁹For then will I turne to the people a pure ^†language, that they may all call vpon the Name of the LORD, to serue him with one ^†consent.

³Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

³Neither shalt thou make marriages with them: thy daughter thou shalt not giue vnto his sonne, nor his daughter shalt thou take vnto thy sonne.

⁵Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

⁵Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefe Priests, the Leuites, and all Israel to sweare, that they should doe according to this word: and they sware.

²⁹They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

³⁰And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

²⁹They claue to their brethren their nobles, and entred into a curse, and into an oath to walke in Gods law, which was giuen ^†by Moses the seruant of God, and to obserue and doe all the commandements of the LORD our LORD, and his Iudgements, and his statutes:

³⁰And that we would not giue ^*our daughters vnto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sonnes.

¹⁷Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

¹⁷Then I contended with the Nobles of Iudah, and sayd vnto them, What euill thing is this that ye doe, and profane the Sabbath day?

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.

¹³Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.

¹³Also I shooke my lap, and said, So God shake out euery man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, euen thus be he shaken out, and ^†emptied. And all the Congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

¹²And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

¹³That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

¹⁴And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

¹⁵And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.

¹²And they entred into a couenant to seeke the LORD God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soule:

¹³That whosoeuer would not seeke the LORD God of Israel, ^*should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

¹⁴And they sware vnto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

¹⁵And all Iudah reioyced at the oath: for they had sworne with all their heart, & sought him with their whole desire, and he was found of them: and the LORD gaue them rest round about.

²And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

³Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

²And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the Iudge shall cause him to lie downe, and to bee beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certaine number.

^3*Fourtie stripes he may giue him, and not exceed: lest if he should exceede, and beate him aboue these, with many stripes, then thy brother should seeme vile vnto thee.

¹⁴¶ And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

¹⁵Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

¹⁶Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁷Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁸Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁹Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁰Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²¹Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²²Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²³Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁴Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁵Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁶Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁴¶ And ^*the Leuites shal speake, and say vnto all the men of Israel with a loud voyce:

¹⁵Cursed be the man that maketh any grauen or molten image, an abomination vnto the LORD, the worke of the handes of the craftesman, and putteth it in a secret place: and all the people shall answere and say, Amen.

¹⁶Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁷Cursed be he that remooueth his neighbours land-marke: and all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁸Cursed be hee that maketh the blinde to wander out of the way: and all the people shall say, Amen.

¹⁹Cursed be hee that peruerteth the iudgement of the stranger, fatherlesse, and widow: and all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁰Cursed be hee that lieth with his fathers wife, because he vncouereth his fathers skirt: and all the people shall say, Amen.

²¹Cursed be hee that lieth with any maner of beast: and all the people shall say, Amen.

²²Cursed be hee that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother: and all the people shall say, Amen.

²³Cursed be hee that lieth with his mother in law: and all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁴Cursed be hee that smiteth his neighbour secretly: and all the people shall say, Amen.

^25*Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person: and all the people shall say, Amen.

^26*Cursed be hee that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to doe them: and al the people shal say, Amen.

¹³Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

¹³Thou shalt ^*feare the LORD thy God, and serue him, & shalt sweare by his Name.

¹⁶And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

¹⁶And thou take of their daughters vnto thy sonnes, and ^*their daughters goe a whoring after their gods, and make thy sonnes goe a whoring after their gods.

²⁶And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

²⁶And whosoeuer will not doe the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let iudgement be executed speedily vpon him, whether it be vnto death, or to ^†banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

⁶I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

^6*I gaue my backe to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the haire: I hidde not my face from shame and spitting.

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.

⁴In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

⁴In whose eies a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that feare the LORD: he that sweareth to his owne hurt, and changeth not.

⁴⁵¶ Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

⁴⁶And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

⁴⁵¶ Then answered one of the Lawyers, and said vnto him, Master, thus saying, thou reprochest vs also.

^46*And he said, Woe vnto you also ye lawyers: for ye lade men with burdens grieuous to be borne, and ye your selues touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

¹BUT king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

²Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

³And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

⁴For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

⁵For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

⁶And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

⁷Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

⁸And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

¹¶ But King Solomon loued ^*many strange women, ( ^‖together with y ^e daughter of Pharaoh) women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians & Hittites:

²Of the nations concerning which the LORD said vnto the children of Israel, ^*Yee shall not goe in to them, neither shall they come in vnto you, for surely they will turne away your heart after their gods: Solomon claue vnto these in loue.

³And he had seuen hundred wiues, Princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wiues turned away his heart.

⁴For it came to passe when Solomon was old, that his wiues turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of Dauid his father.

⁵For Solomon went after ^*Ashtoreth the goddesse of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Amorites.

⁶And Solomon did euill in the sight of the LORD, and ^†went not fully after the LORD, as did Dauid his father.

⁷Then did Solomon build an hie place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Ierusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.

⁸And likewise did hee for all his strange wiues, which burnt incense and sacrificed vnto their gods.

¹³And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

¹³And I haue also ^*giuen thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there ^‖shall not be any among the Kings like vnto thee, all thy dayes.

²⁶And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

^26*†And I finde more bitter then death, the woman whose heart is snares & nets, and her handes as bands: who so pleaseth God, shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

¹²Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

¹²Wisedome and knowledge is granted vnto thee, and I will giue thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as ^*none of the kings haue had, that haue beene before thee, neither shall there any after thee haue the like.

²⁴¶ And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.

²⁵And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

²⁴¶ And Dauid comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in vnto her, and lay with her: and ^*she bare a sonne, and he called his name Solomon, and the LORD loued him.

²⁵And hee sent by the hand of Nathan the Prophet, and ^*hee called his name ^†Iedidiah, because of the LORD.

²²And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

²²And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisedome.

²And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

²And Shechaniah the sonne of Iehiel, one of the sonnes of Elam, answered and said vnto Ezra, Wee haue trespassed against our God, and haue taken strange wiues, of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

²⁴For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

²⁴For who will hearken vnto you in this matter? But as his part is that goeth downe to the battell, so shall his part bee that tarieth by the stuffe: they shall part alike.