Nehemiah 13:17

JPS Old Testament

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them: 'What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

Hebrew Names Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the day of Shabbat?

King James Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

English Standard Version
Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

New Century Version
I argued with the important men of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing? You are ruining the Sabbath day.

New English Translation
So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?

Amplified Bible
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

New American Standard Bible
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, by profaning the Sabbath day?

World English Bible
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then reprooued I the rulers of Iudah, and sayd vnto them, What euil thing is this that yee doe, and breake the Sabbath day?

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing, even profaning the sabbath day?

Berean Standard Bible
Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, "What is this evil you are doing-profaning the Sabbath day?

Contemporary English Version
I got angry and said to the leaders of Judah, "This evil you are doing is an insult to the Sabbath!

Complete Jewish Bible
I disputed with the nobles of Y'hudah, demanding of them, "What is this terrible thing you are doing, profaning the day of Shabbat?

Darby Translation
And I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this which ye do, profaning the sabbath day?

Easy-to-Read Version
I told the important people of Judah that they were wrong. I said, "You are doing a very bad thing. You are ruining the Sabbath day.

George Lamsa Translation
Then I contended with the chiefs of Judah and said to them, Why are you doing this evil thing and profaning the sabbath day?

Good News Translation
I reprimanded the Jewish leaders and told them, "Look at the evil you're doing! You're making the Sabbath unholy.

Lexham English Bible
So I quarreled with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the day of the Sabbath?

Literal Translation
And I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, What is this evil thing that you do, defiling the Sabbath day?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then reproued I the rulers in Iuda, and saide vnto them: What euell thinge is this that ye do, and breake the Sabbath daye?

American Standard Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Bible in Basic English
Then I made protests to the chiefs of Judah, and said to them, What is this evil which you are doing, not keeping the Sabbath day holy?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then reproued I the rulers in Iuda, & sayd vnto them: What euyl thing is this that ye do, & breake the Sabbath day?

King James Version (1611)
Then I contended with the Nobles of Iudah, and sayd vnto them, What euill thing is this that ye doe, and profane the Sabbath day?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I strove with the free children of Juda, and said to them, What is this evil thing which ye do, and profane the sabbath-day?

English Revised Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y rebuykide the principal men of Juda, and Y seide to hem, What is this yuel thing which ye doen, and maken vnhooli the daie of the sabat?

Update Bible Version
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

New King James Version
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?

New Living Translation
So I confronted the nobles of Judah. "Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?" I asked.

New Life Bible
Then I spoke sharp words to the leaders of Judah, saying, "What is this sinful thing you are doing by not keeping the Day of Rest holy?

New Revised Standard
Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
so I contended with the nobles of Judah, - and said unto them, What is this wicked thing which, ye, are doing, and profaning the sabbath day?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I rebuked the chief men of Juda, and said to them: What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day:

Revised Standard Version
Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing which you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?

Young's Literal Translation
And I strive with the freemen of Judah, and say to them, `What [is] this evil thing that ye are doing, and polluting the sabbath-day?

THE MESSAGE
I confronted the leaders of Judah: "What's going on here? This evil! Profaning the Sabbath! Isn't this exactly what your ancestors did? And because of it didn't God bring down on us and this city all this misery? And here you are adding to it—accumulating more wrath on Jerusalem by profaning the Sabbath."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day?

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of corn, and lading asses therewith; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I forewarned them in the day wherein they sold victuals. ¹⁶ There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them: 'What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? ¹⁸ Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.' ¹⁹ And it 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 till after the sabbath; and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. ²⁰ So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. ²¹ Then I forewarned them, and said unto them: 'Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you.' From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. ²² And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I contended: Nehemiah 13:11, Nehemiah 13:25, Nehemiah 5:7, Psalms 82:1, Psalms 82:2, Proverbs 28:4, Isaiah 1:10, Jeremiah 5:5, Jeremiah 13:18, Jeremiah 22:2-23, Micah 3:1, Micah 3:9

Reciprocal: Ezra 9:2 - the hand Proverbs 24:25 - them Isaiah 56:2 - keepeth the Ezekiel 23:38 - and have Matthew 12:5 - profane

Cross-References

Genesis 13:15
for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.

Genesis 13:17
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then I contended with the nobles,.... The rulers of the city, the civil magistrates, sharply reproved them for their neglect of duty:

and said unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? by suffering servile works to be done in it, and things sold on it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. I contended with the nobles — These evils took place through their negligence; and this I proved before them.