20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21 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 And I commanded the Levites that they should mcleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, nconcerning this also, and spare me according to the ||greatness of thy mercy.

23 *In those days also saw I Jews that †ohad married wives of pAshdod, of qAmmon, and of qMoab: 24 And their children spake half in the speech of pAshdod, and †could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language †of each people. 25 And I rcontended with them, and ||cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and smade 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 tDid not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet uamong many nations was there no king like him, xwho was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to ytransgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28 And one of the sons zof Joiada, the son of aEliashib the high priest, was son in law to bSanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29 cRemember them, O my God, †because they have defiled the priesthood, and dthe covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.