and that we will not giveour daughtersto the peoplesof the landor taketheir daughtersfor our sons.
Beforehim there was nokinglikehim whoturnedto the LORDwith allhis heartand with allhis souland with allhis might,according to allthe lawof Moses;nordid any likehim ariseafterhim.
The kingstoodby the pillarand madea covenantbeforethe LORD,to walkafterthe LORD,and to keepHis commandmentsand His testimoniesand His statuteswith all[his] heartand all[his] soul,to carryout the wordsof thiscovenantthat were writtenin thisbook.And allthe peopleenteredinto the covenant.
Then the kingstoodin his placeand madea covenantbeforethe LORDto walkafterthe LORD,and to keepHis commandmentsand His testimoniesand His statuteswith allhis heartand with allhis soul,to performthe wordsof the covenantwrittenin thisbook.
Now on the sealeddocument [were the names of]: Nehemiahthe governor,the sonof Hacaliah,and Zedekiah,
In thosedaysI alsosawthat the Jewshad marriedwomenfrom Ashdod,Ammon[and] Moab.
So I contendedwith them and cursedthem and strucksomeof them and pulledout their hair,and made them swearby God,"You shall not giveyour daughtersto their sons,nortakeof their daughtersfor your sonsor for yourselves.
Thus I purifiedthem from everythingforeignand appointeddutiesfor the priestsand the Levites,eachin his task,
Then they said,"We will give[it] backand will requirenothingfrom them; we will doexactlyas you say."So I calledthe priestsand tookan oathfrom them that they would doaccording to thispromise.
I have swornand I will confirmit, That I will keepYour righteousordinances.
and you might takesomeof his daughtersfor your sons,and his daughtersmight playthe harlotwith their godsand cause your sons[also] to playthe harlotwith their gods.
your littleones,your wives,and the alienwhois withinyour camps,from the one who chopsyour woodto the one who drawsyour water,
"Furthermore, you shall not intermarrywith them; you shall not giveyour daughtersto their sons,norshall you taketheir daughtersfor your sons.
