5. had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the oblations, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil, which was commanded for the Levites and the singers and the doorkeepers, and the heave-offerings of the priests.
6. And during all that time I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king; and after some time I obtained leave of the king.
7. And I came to Jerusalem, and observed the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobijah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God
8. And it grieved me much, and I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobijah out of the chamber.
9. And I commanded, and they purified the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God the oblation and the frankincense.
10. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that the Levites and the singers that did the work had fled every one to his field.
11. Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
12. And all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil into the storehouses.
13. And I made storekeepers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and subordinate to them, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were esteemed faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.
14. Remember me, O my God concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God and for the charges thereof!
15. In those days I saw in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading them on asses; as also wine, grapes and figs, and all manner of burdens; and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I protested in the day on which they sold the victuals.
16. Men of Tyre also dwelt therein, who brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold it on the sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17. And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this which ye do, profaning the sabbath day?
18. Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? And ye will bring more wrath against Israel by profaning the sabbath.
19. And it came to pass, that when it began to be dark in the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And I set someof my servants at the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day.
20. And the dealers and sellers of all kind of ware passed the night without Jerusalem once or twice.