Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

Nehemiah 13:11

And I strive with the prefects, and say, "Why has the house of God been forsaken?" And I gather them, and set them on their station;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Levites;   Lukewarmness;   Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Nehemiah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Offerings;   Tithe;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Malachi;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Magistrate;   Nehemiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Contend;   House of God;   Law in the Old Testament;   Magistrate;   Ruler;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.
Hebrew Names Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
New Century Version
I argued with the officers, saying, "Why haven't you taken care of the Temple?" Then I gathered the Levites and singers and put them back at their places.
New English Translation
So I registered a complaint with the leaders, asking "Why is the temple of God neglected?" Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions.
Amplified Bible
Then I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God neglected?" So I gathered the Levites and singers together and restored them at their posts.
New American Standard Bible
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" Then I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.
World English Bible
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then reproued I the rulers and sayd, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I assembled them, and set them in their place.
Legacy Standard Bible
So I contended against the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and had them stand in their posts.
Berean Standard Bible
So I rebuked the officials and asked, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
Contemporary English Version
I called the leaders together and angrily asked them, "Why is the temple neglected?" Then I told them to start doing their jobs.
Complete Jewish Bible
I disputed with the leaders, demanding, "Why is the house of God abandoned?" I gathered the L'vi'im together and restored them to their stations;
Darby Translation
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.
Easy-to-Read Version
So I told the officials that they were wrong. I asked them, "Why didn't you take care of God's Temple?" Then I called all Levites together and told them to go back to their places and duties in the Temple.
George Lamsa Translation
Then I contended with the chiefs, and said to them, Why is the house of the LORD forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
Good News Translation
I reprimanded the officials for letting the Temple be neglected. And I brought the Levites and musicians back to the Temple and put them to work again.
Lexham English Bible
So I quarreled with the prefects, and I said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them and set them at their station.
Literal Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them and set them in their place.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayde: Why forsake we the house of God? But I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said, Why has the house of God been given up? And I got them together and put them in their places.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayd: Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
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.
King James Version (1611)
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.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I strove with the commanders, and said, Wherefore has the house of God been abandoned? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
English Revised Version
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Y dide the cause ayens magistratis, and Y seide, Whi `forsaken we the hous of God? And Y gaderide hem togidere, `that is, dekenes and mynystris `that hadden go awei, and Y made hem to stonde in her stondyngis.
Update Bible Version
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.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
New King James Version
So 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.
New Living Translation
I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, "Why has the Temple of God been neglected?" Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.
New Life Bible
So I spoke sharp words to the leaders and said, "Why is the house of God no longer cared for?" Then I gathered them together and returned them to their duties.
New Revised Standard
So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God, forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I pleaded the matter against the magistrates, and said: Why have we forsaken the house of God? And I gathered them together, and I made them to stand in their places.
Revised Standard Version
So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
Young's Literal Translation
And I strive with the prefects, and say, `Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them, and set them on their station;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.

Contextual Overview

10And I know that the portions of the Levites have not been given, and they flee each to his field—the Levites and the singers, doing the work. 11And I strive with the prefects, and say, "Why has the house of God been forsaken?" And I gather them, and set them on their station;12and all Judah has brought in the tithe of the grain, and of the new wine, and of the oil, to the treasuries. 13And I appoint treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; and by their hand [is] Hanan son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they have been reckoned steadfast, and on them [it is] to give a portion to their brothers. 14Be mindful of me, O my God, for this, and do not blot out my kind acts that I have done, for the house of my God, and for its charges.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

contended: Nehemiah 13:17, Nehemiah 13:25, Nehemiah 5:6-13, Job 31:34, Proverbs 28:4

Why is the house: Nehemiah 10:39, 1 Samuel 2:17, Malachi 3:8-11

place: Heb. standing

Reciprocal: Judges 17:8 - departed

Cross-References

Genesis 13:9
Is not all the land before you? Please be parted from me; if to the left, then I to the right; and if to the right, then I to the left."
Genesis 13:14
And YHWH said to Abram, after Lot's being parted from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you [are], northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward;
Genesis 19:17
And it comes to pass, when he has brought them outside, that he says, "Escape for your life; do not look behind you, nor stand in all the circuit; escape to the mountain, lest you are consumed."
Psalms 16:3
For the holy ones who [are] in the land, || And the honorable, all my delight [is] in them.
Psalms 119:63
I [am] a companion to all who fear You, || And to those keeping Your precepts.
Proverbs 27:10
Do not forsake your own friend and the friend of your father, || And do not enter the house of your brother in a day of your calamity, || A near neighbor [is] better than a brother far off.
Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as [is] a custom of some, but exhorting, and so much the more as you see the Day coming near.
1 Peter 2:17
give honor to all; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then I contended with the rulers;.... The ecclesiastical rulers, the priests that were appointed over those chambers, Nehemiah 12:44, he expostulated with them warmly, and chode them severely for their conduct:

and said, why is the house of God forsaken? no care being taken of the maintenance of the ministers of it, contrary to the promise made

Nehemiah 10:37,

and l gathered them together; the Levites and singers that were dispersed in the countries round about:

and set them in their place; in the temple, and in the course of their ministry there.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I gathered them together - Nehemiah gathered the Levites from their lands, and reinstated them in their set offices.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Nehemiah 13:11. Why is the house of God forsaken? — They had all solemnly promised, Nehemiah 10:39, that they would never forsake the house of their God; but, alas, how soon is this forgotten! Nehemiah used their own words here by way of reproof.


 
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