Nehemiah 5

1 Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.2 For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.3 Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.7 Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.9 Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?10 And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.13 Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.15 But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.17 Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.19 Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah Intervenes on behalf of the Oppressed

1 Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.t2 There were those who said, “With our sons and daughters, we are many. We must obtaint grain in order to eat and stay alive.”3 There were others who said, “We are putting up our fields, our vineyards, and our houses as collateral in order to obtain grain during the famine.”4 Then there were those who said, “We have borrowed money to pay our taxes to the kingt on our fields and our vineyards.

5 And now, though we share the same flesh and blood as our fellow countrymen,t and our children are just like their children,t still we have found it necessary to subject our sons and daughters to slavery.t Some of our daughters have been subjected to slavery, while we are powerless to help,t since our fields and vineyards now belong to other people.”s
6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.t7 I considered these things carefullyt and then registered a complaint with the wealthyt and the officials. I said to them, “Each one of you is seizing the collateralt from your own countrymen!”t Because of them I called fort a great public assembly.

8 I said to them, “To the extent possible we have bought back our fellow Jewst who had been sold to the Gentiles. But now you yourselves want to sell your own countrymen,t so that we can then buy them back!” They were utterly silent, and could find nothing to say.
9 Then Is said, “The thing that you are doing is wrong!t Should you not conduct yourselvest in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies?10 Even I and my relativest and my associatest are lending them money and grain. But let us abandon this practice of seizing collateral!t

11 This very day return to them their fields, their vineyards, their olive trees, and their houses, along with the interests that you are exacting from them on the money, the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil.”
12 They replied, “We will return these things,t and we will no longer demand anything from them. We will do just as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the wealthy and the officialst swear to do what had been promised.t

13 I also shook out my garment,t and I said, “In this way may God shake out from his house and his property every person who does not carry outt this matter. In this way may he be shaken out and emptied!” All the assembly replied, “So be it!” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.t
14 From the day that I was appointeds governors in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes – twelve years in all – neither I nor my relativest ate the food allotted to the governor.t15 But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition tos forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.

16 I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasingt a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.
17 There were 150 Jews and officials who dined with me routinely,t in addition to those who came to us from the nationst all around us.

18 Every day one ox, six select sheep, and some birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Despite all this I did not require the food allotted to the governor, for the work was demanding on this people.

19 Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.