23. In those days I also saw Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab;
24. and their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and according to the language of each people; for they could not speak in the Jews’ language.
25. And I contended with them and cursed them and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
26. Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, strange women caused even him to offend.
27. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange women?
28. And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore, I chased him from me.
29. Remember them, O my God because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30. Thus I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, each one in his work,
31. and for the wood offering, at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.