Nehemiah 13:17

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."

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?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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?

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?

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

¹⁵During those days, while back in Judah, I also noticed that people treaded wine presses, brought in sacks of grain, and loaded up their donkeys on the Sabbath. They brought wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of stuff to sell on the Sabbath. So I spoke up and warned them about selling food on that day. Tyrians living there brought in fish and whatever else, selling it to Judeans—in Jerusalem, mind you!—on the Sabbath. ¹⁷I 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." ¹⁹ As the gates of Jerusalem were darkened by the shadows of the approaching Sabbath, I ordered the doors shut and not to be opened until the Sabbath was over. I placed some of my servants at the gates to make sure that nothing to be sold would get in on the Sabbath day. ²⁰Traders and dealers in various goods camped outside the gates once or twice. But I took them to task. I said, "You have no business camping out here by the wall. If I find you here again, I'll use force to drive you off." And that did it; they didn't come back on the Sabbath. ²² Then I directed the Levites to ceremonially cleanse themselves and take over as guards at the gates to keep the sanctity of the Sabbath day. Remember me also for this, my God. Treat me with mercy according to your great and steadfast love.

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

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.