4 And before this, gEliashib the priest, †having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto hTobiah: 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, iwhere 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 *But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the ktwo and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes lking of Babylon came I unto the king, and †after certain days ||obtained I leave of the king: 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that gEliashib did for hTobiah, min preparing him na chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they ocleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again mthe vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that pthe portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to qhis field. 11 Then rcontended I with the rulers, and said, Why is sthe house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their †place. 12 Then brought all Judah tthe tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the ||treasuries. 13 And uI made treasurers over the ||treasuries, xShelemiah the priest, and yZadok the scribe, and of the Levites, zPedaiah: and †next to them was aHanan the son of bZaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted cfaithful, and †their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 dRemember 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 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses eon the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, fwhich they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified gagainst them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 16 There dwelt men of hTyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then iI contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 kDid 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.