Nehemiah 13:20-22

Good News Translation

²⁰ Once or twice merchants who sold all kinds of goods spent Friday night outside the city walls. ²¹ I warned them, “It's no use waiting out there for morning to come. If you try this again, I'll use force on you.” From then on they did not come back on the Sabbath. ²² I ordered the Levites to purify themselves and to go and guard the gates to make sure that the Sabbath was kept holy.

Remember me, O God, for this also, and spare me because of your great love.