When these things had been done, the Jewish leaders came to me and said,“ Many of the people of Israel, and even some of the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

这事做完了，众首领来见我，说：“以色列民和祭司并利未人，没有离绝迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亚扪人、摩押人、埃及人、亚摩利人，仍效法这些国的民，行可憎的事。

这些事完成以后，众领袖来接近我，说：“以色列百姓、祭司和利未人没有弃绝迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亚扪人、摩押人、埃及人和亚摩利人等列邦民族所行可憎的事。

这些事完成以后，众领袖来接近我，说：“以色列百姓、祭司和利未人没有弃绝迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亚扪人、摩押人、埃及人和亚摩利人等列邦民族所行可憎的事。

这些事以后，众首领来告诉我说：“以色列民众、祭司和利未人还没有与当地各族分开，他们仍随从迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亚扪人、摩押人、埃及人和亚摩利人的可憎行为。

“完成这些事以后，众领袖前来见我，说：‘以色列民、祭司和利未人没有从当地的民族中分别出来，他们随从迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亚扪人、摩押人、埃及人和亚摩利人行可憎的事。

這事做完了，眾首領來見我，說：「以色列民和祭司並利未人，沒有離絕迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人、亞摩利人，仍效法這些國的民，行可憎的事。

這些事完成以後，眾領袖來接近我，說：「以色列百姓、祭司和利未人沒有棄絕迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人和亞摩利人等列邦民族所行可憎的事。

這些事完成以後，眾領袖來接近我，說：「以色列百姓、祭司和利未人沒有棄絕迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人和亞摩利人等列邦民族所行可憎的事。

這些事以後，眾首領來告訴我說：「以色列民眾、祭司和利未人還沒有與當地各族分開，他們仍隨從迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人和亞摩利人的可憎行為。

“完成這些事以後，眾領袖前來見我，說：‘以色列民、祭司和利未人沒有從當地的民族中分別出來，他們隨從迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人和亞摩利人行可憎的事。

這些事作完了，眾首領前來見我，說：『以色列民和祭司跟利未人並沒有從四圍各地別族之民中分別出來，反而仿照他們可憎惡的事去行，像迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人、亞摩利人所行的。

斯事既畢、諸牧伯就我曰、以色列眾、及祭司利未人、未與斯土之民絕交、效迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人、亞摩利人、行其可憎之事、

嗣後民長就我曰、斯土之民、迦南人、赫人、比哩洗人、耶布士人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人、亞摩哩人、俱作不善、以色列族眾、祭司、及利未人、與居與處、則清濁不判。

斯後、諸牧伯就我曰、以色列民、祭司、及利未人、不絕離斯土之異族、行迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、伊及人、亞摩利人所行可憎之事、

After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said,“ The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites.

After all these things had been done, the leaders came to me. They said,“ The people of Israel have committed sins. Even the priests and Levites have sinned. They haven’t kept themselves separate from the nations around them. The Lord hates the practices of those nations. He hates what the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites do. He also hates what the Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites do.

After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said,“ The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said,“ The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

Now when these things had been completed, the officials approached me, saying,“ The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, as to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying,“ The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said:“ The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands,[ doing] according to their abominations,[ even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said,“ The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying,“ The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.

“ Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways.Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out.You must obey all my decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.“ All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled.So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel.So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.”

How will anyone know that you look favorably on me— on me and on your people— if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

do not fall into the trap of following their customs and worshiping their gods. Do not inquire about their gods, saying,‘ How do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example.’You must not worship the Lord your God the way the other nations worship their gods, for they perform for their gods every detestable act that the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods.

Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked,“ That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you.This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.

The Passover meal was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile and by the others in the land who had turned from their corrupt practices to worship the Lord, the God of Israel.Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.

the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Get out! Get out and leave your captivity, where everything you touch is unclean. Get out of there and purify yourselves, you who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord.

I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations.

“ No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord.These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in distant Aram naharaim to curse you.But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord your God loves you.

Those who failed to come within three days would, if the leaders and elders so decided, forfeit all their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

On that same day, as the Book of Moses was being read to the people, the passage was found that said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be permitted to enter the assembly of God.For they had not provided the Israelites with food and water in the wilderness. Instead, they hired Balaam to curse them, though our God turned the curse into a blessing.When this passage of the Law was read, all those of foreign descent were immediately excluded from the assembly.

While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women.These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab.In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people.

Then Ezra the priest stood and said to them:“ You have committed a terrible sin. By marrying pagan women, you have increased Israel’s guilt.So now confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from these pagan women.”

When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed over from the palace and sat down at the New Gate of the Temple to hold court.

But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious.

“ When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.

So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life.

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:“ I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites.( He swore to your ancestors that he would give you this land— a land flowing with milk and honey.)

For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites.

After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.”

Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets,“ This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.

You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.No wonder the Scriptures say,“ The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.

Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs.

He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.