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And Shabbethai, and Iozabad, of the chiefe of the Leuits, had the ouersight of the outward businesse of the house of God.

The ouerseer also of the Leuites at Ierusalem, was Uzzi the sonne of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the sonne of Mattaniah, the sonne of Micha: Of the sonnes of Asaph, the singers were ouer the businesse of the house of God.

And the chiefe of the Leuites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Ieshua the sonne of Kadmiel, with their brethren ouer against them, to praise and to giue thankes, according to the commandement of Dauid the man of God, ward ouer against ward.

And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Asarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanael, and Iudah, Hanani, with the musicall instruments of Dauid the man of God; and Ezra the Scribe before them.

So stood the two companies of them that gaue thankes in the house of God, and I, and the halfe of the rulers with me:

Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and reioyced; for God had made them reioyce with great ioy: the wiues also and the children reioyced: so that the ioy of Ierusalem was heard euen afarre off.

And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandement of Dauid, and of Solomon his sonne.

For in the dayes of Dauid and Asaph of old, there were chiefe of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiuing vnto God.

On that day they read in the booke 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 euer,

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.

And before this Eliashib the priest hauing the ouersight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied vnto Tobiah:

And I came to Ierusalem, and vnderstood of the euil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers, and thither brought I againe the vessels of the house of God, with the meate offering, and the frankincense.

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.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds, that I haue done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this euill vpon vs, and vpon this citie? yet ye bring more wrath vpon Israel, by profaning the Sabbath.

And I commanded the Leuites, that they should cleanse themselues, and that they should come and keepe the gates, to sanctifie the Sabbath day: Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me, according to the greatnesse of thy mercie.

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certeine of them, and pluckt off their haire, and made them sweare by God, saying, Yee shall not giue your daughters vnto their sonnes, nor take their daughters vnto your sonnes, or for your selues.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sinne by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloued of his God, and God made him king ouer all Israel: neuerthelesse, euen him did outlandish women cause to sinne.

Shall wee then hearken vnto you, to doe all this great euill, to transgresse against our God, in marrying strange wiues?