So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing [is] this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.

Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. Then the people did according to this promise.

" And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel:

'Cursed [is] the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

'Cursed [is] the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

'Cursed [is] the one who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's bed.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

'Cursed [is] the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

'Cursed [is] the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

'Cursed [is] the one who does not confirm [all] the words of this law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He [who] swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also."

And He said, "Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

"then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows.

"Forty blows he may give him [and] no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.

Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether [it be] death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

I gave My back to those who struck [Me,] And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

"You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

Then they took an oath before the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting and trumpets and rams' horns.

Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath.

"and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.

"Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.