与外邦人隔离
在那日，百姓听到人朗读摩西的律法书，发现书上写着，亚扪人和摩押人永不可入神的会；
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;
2因为他们没有拿食物和水来迎接以色列人，却雇了巴兰诅咒他们，但我们的神使那诅咒变为祝福。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.
3以色列人听见这律法，就与所有不同族群的人分别出来。Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
尼希米的改革
4在这之前，与多比雅结亲的以利亚实祭司，受派管理我们神殿中的库房，And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
5为多比雅预备了一间大屋子，就是从前收存素祭、乳香、器皿，和照例供给利未人、歌唱者、门口守卫的五谷、新酒和新油的十分之一，以及归祭司之举祭的屋子。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.
6当这一切事发生的时候，我不在耶路撒冷，因为巴比伦王亚达薛西三十二年，我回到王那里。过了多日，我又向王告假。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:
7我来到耶路撒冷，才知道以利亚实为多比雅所做、在神殿的院内为他预备屋子的那件恶事。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.
8我非常愤怒，就把多比雅的一切家具都从屋子里抛出去。And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9我又吩咐人洁净这屋子，然后将神殿的器皿、素祭和乳香搬回那里。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.
10我发现利未人当得的份无人供给他们，甚至供职的利未人与歌唱的都各奔回自己的田地去了。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.
11我就斥责官长说：“你们为何不顾神的殿呢？”于是我召集利未人，使他们在自己的岗位上供职。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.
12犹大众人就把五谷、新酒和新油的十分之一送入库房。Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
13我派示利米雅祭司、撒督文士和利未人毗大雅作司库管理库房，副手是哈难；哈难是撒刻的儿子，撒刻是玛他尼的儿子；这些人都是忠实的，他们的职务是分派他们弟兄所当得的份。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.
14我的神啊，求你因这事记念我，不要涂去我为神的殿与其中的礼仪所献的忠心。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.
15那些日子，我在犹大见有人在安息日踹榨酒池，搬运禾捆驮在驴上，又把酒、葡萄、无花果和各样的担子在安息日扛入耶路撒冷，我就在他们卖食物的那日警戒他们。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.
16有一些住在城里的推罗人也把鱼和各样货物运进来，甚至在耶路撒冷，在安息日卖给犹大人。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.
17我就斥责犹大的贵族，对他们说：“你们怎么会做这恶事干犯安息日呢！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?
18你们祖先岂不是这样做，以致我们的神使一切灾祸临到我们和这城吗？你们竟干犯安息日，使愤怒越发临到以色列！”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.
19安息日前一日黄昏的时候，我吩咐人把耶路撒冷城门锁上；我又吩咐，不过安息日不准开门。我也派几个仆人在城门口站岗，免得有人在安息日挑担子进城。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.
20于是商人和贩卖各样货物的人，有一两次在耶路撒冷城外过夜。So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
21我警告他们说：“你们为何在城墙前过夜呢？若再这样，我必下手办你们。”从此以后，他们在安息日就不再来了。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.
22我吩咐利未人洁净自己来守城门，使安息日分别为圣。我的神啊，求你因这事记念我，照你丰盛的慈爱怜悯我。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.
23那些日子，我又看见犹太人娶了亚实突、亚扪和摩押的女子为妻。In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24他们的儿女，一半说亚实突话，或其他种族的方言，不会说犹大话。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.
25我就斥责他们，诅咒他们，打了他们几个人，拔下他们的胡须，叫他们指着神起誓：“你们不可把自己的女儿嫁给外邦人的儿子，也不可为自己和儿子娶他们的女儿。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.
26以色列王所罗门不也在这样的事上犯罪吗？在许多国家中并没有一位王像他，蒙他神喜爱，神立他作王治理全以色列。然而，连他也被外邦女子引诱犯罪。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.
27我们岂能听凭你们行这一切大恶，娶外邦女子干犯我们的神呢？”Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
28以利亚实大祭司的孙子，耶何耶大的一个儿子是和伦人参巴拉的女婿，我就把他从我这里赶出去。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.
29我的神啊，求你记得他们的罪，因为他们玷污了祭司的职分，违背祭司和利未人的约。Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30这样，我洁净他们，使他们脱离属外邦人的一切；我又分派祭司和利未人的班次，使他们各尽其职，Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31按定期奉献木柴和初熟的土产。我的神啊，求你记念我，施恩于我。And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.