Nehemiah 13:23
Verse 23 of 31. The 13th of 13 chapters in Nehemiah, in History.
19It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice.
21Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath.
22I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me for this also, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.
23In those days I also saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;
24and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
25I contended with them, cursed them, struck certain of them, plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
26Didn’t Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.
27Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?”
World English Bible. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.