Nehemiah 5

1And there wasH1961 a greatH1419 cryH6818 of the peopleH5971 and of their wivesH802 against their brethren the JewsH3064. 2And there were that saidH559, We, our sonsH1121 and our daughtersH1323, are manyH7227, and we must procure corn that we may eatH398 and liveH2421. 3And there were that saidH559, We have had to pledge our fieldsH7704, and our vineyardsH3754, and our housesH1004, that we might procure corn in the dearth. 4And there were that saidH559, We have borrowed moneyH3701 for the king's tribute upon our fieldsH7704 and vineyardsH3754; 5yet nowH6258 our fleshH1320 is as the fleshH1320 of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must 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 the power of our handH3027 [to redeem them], for otherH312 men have our fieldsH7704 and our vineyardsH3754. 6And I was veryH3966 angryH2734 whenH834 I heardH8085 their cryH2201 and these wordsH1697. 7And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and saidH559 to them, Ye exact usuryH4855, every oneH376 of his brotherH251! And I setH5414 a greatH1419 assemblyH6952 against them. 8And I saidH559 to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the JewsH3064, who were soldH4376 to the nationsH1471; and will ye even sellH4376 your brethren? or shall they be soldH4376 unto us? And they were silentH2790 and foundH4672 no answer. 9And I saidH559, The thingH1697 that ye do is not goodH2896. Ought ye not to walk in the fearH3374 of our 1GodH430, so as not to be the reproachH2781 of the nationsH1471 our enemiesH341? 10I alsoH1571, my brethren and my servantsH5288, we might exact usuryH4855 of them, moneyH3701 and corn. I pray you, let us leaveH5800 off this usuryH4855. 11RestoreH7725, I pray you, to them this very dayH3117 their fieldsH7704, their vineyardsH3754, their olive-gardens, and their housesH1004, also the hundredth [part] of the moneyH3701, and of the corn, the wineH8492 and the oilH3323, that ye have exacted of them. 12And they saidH559, We will restoreH7725 [them], and will requireH1245 nothing of them; soH3651 will we do, as thou hast saidH559. And I calledH7121 the priestsH3548, and took an oathH7650 of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13AlsoH1571 I shookH5287 my lap, and saidH559, So 2GodH430 shakeH5287 out every manH376 from his houseH1004 and from his earnings, that performeth not this promise: even thusH3602 beH1961 he shakenH5287 out and emptiedH7386! And all the congregation saidH559, AmenH543! And they 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 to the thirty-second yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428, twelve yearsH8141, I and my brethren have not eatenH398 the breadH3899 of the governorH6346. 15But the formerH7223 governorsH6346 that were before me had been chargeable to the peopleH5971, and had takenH3947 of them breadH3899 and wineH3196, besides fortyH705 shekelsH8255 of silverH3701: even their servantsH5288 bore rule over the peopleH5971. But I did not soH3651, because of the fearH3374 of 3GodH430. 16Yea, alsoH1571 I applied myself to this workH4399 of the wallH2346, and we boughtH7069 no fieldsH7704; and all my servantsH5288 were gatheredH6908 thither for the workH4399. 17And there were at my tableH7979 a hundredH3967 and fiftyH2572 of the JewsH3064 and the rulers, besides those that cameH935 to us from among the nationsH1471 that were about us. 18And that which wasH1961 prepared daily wasH1961 oneH259 oxH7794 [and] sixH8337 choice sheepH6629; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in tenH6235 daysH3117 all sorts of wineH3196 in abundanceH7235. Yet for all this I demanded not the breadH3899 of the governorH6346; for the serviceH5656 wasH1961 heavyH3513 upon this peopleH5971. 19RememberH2142 for me, my 4GodH430, for goodH2896, all that I have done for this peopleH5971.