Nehemiah 5

1Then there arose a greatH1419 cryH6818 of the peopleH5971 and of their wivesH802 against their brethren the JewsH3064. 2For there were that saidH559, We, our sonsH1121 and our daughtersH1323, are manyH7227: let us get grainH1715, that we may eatH398 and liveH2421. 3Some also there were that saidH559, We are mortgaging our fieldsH7704, and our vineyardsH3754, and our housesH1004: let us get grainH1715, because of the dearth. 4There were also that saidH559, We have borrowed moneyH3701 for the king’sH4428 tribute upon our fieldsH7704 and our vineyardsH3754. 5Yet nowH6258 our fleshH1320 is as the fleshH1320 of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sonsH1121 and our daughtersH1323 to be servantsH5650, and some of our daughtersH1323 are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for otherH312 men have our fieldsH7704 and our vineyardsH3754.

6And I was veryH3966 angryH2734 whenH834 I heardH8085 their cryH2201 and these wordsH1697. 7Then I consulted with myself, and contendedH7378 with the nobles and the rulers, and saidH559 unto them, Ye exact usuryH4855, every oneH376 of his brotherH251. And I held a greatH1419 assemblyH6952 against them. 8And I saidH559 unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the JewsH3064, that were soldH4376 unto the nationsH1471; and would ye even sellH4376 your brethren, and should they be soldH4376 unto us? Then held they their peace, and foundH4672 never a wordH1697. 9Also I saidH559, The thingH1697 that ye do is not goodH2896: ought ye not to walk in the fearH3374 of our GodH430, because of the reproachH2781 of the nationsH1471 our enemiesH341? 10And I likewise, my brethren and my servantsH5288, do lend them moneyH3701 and grainH1715. I pray you, let us leaveH5800 off this usuryH4855. 11RestoreH7725, I pray you, to them, even this dayH3117, their fieldsH7704, their vineyardsH3754, their oliveyards, and their housesH1004, also the hundredth part of the moneyH3701, and of the grainH1715, the newH8492 wineH8492, and the oilH3323, that ye exact of them. 12Then saidH559 they, We will restoreH7725 them, and will requireH1245 nothing of them; soH3651 will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I calledH7121 the priestsH3548, and took an oathH7650 of them, that they would do according to this promise. 13AlsoH1571 I shookH5287 out my lap, and saidH559, So GodH430 shakeH5287 out every manH376 from his houseH1004, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thusH3602 beH1961 he shakenH5287 out, and emptiedH7386. And all the assemblyH6951 saidH559, AmenH543, and praisedH1984 Jehovah. And the peopleH5971 did according to this promise.

14Moreover from the time that I wasH1961 appointedH6680 to beH1961 their governorH6346 in the landH776 of JudahH3063, from the twentieth yearH8141 even unto the twoH8147 and thirtieth yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428, that is, twelve yearsH8141, I and my brethren have not eatenH398 the breadH3899 of the governorH6346. 15But the formerH7223 governorsH6346 that were before me were chargeable unto the peopleH5971, and tookH3947 of them breadH3899 and wineH3196, besides fortyH705 shekelsH8255 of silverH3701; yea, even their servantsH5288 bare rule over the peopleH5971: but soH3651 did not I, because of the fearH3374 of GodH430. 16Yea, alsoH1571 I continued in the workH4399 of this wallH2346, neither boughtH7069 we any landH7704: and all my servantsH5288 were gatheredH6908 thither unto the workH4399. 17Moreover there were at my tableH7979, of the JewsH3064 and the rulers, a hundredH3967 and fiftyH2572 menH376, besides those that cameH935 unto us from among the nationsH1471 that were roundH5439 about us. 18Now that which wasH1961 prepared for oneH259 dayH3117 wasH1961 oneH259 oxH7794 and sixH8337 choice sheepH6629; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in tenH6235 daysH3117 store of all sorts of wineH3196: yet for all this I demanded not the breadH3899 of the governorH6346, because the bondage wasH1961 heavyH3513 upon this peopleH5971. 19RememberH2142 unto me, O my GodH430, for goodH2896, all that I have done for this peopleH5971.