New American Standard Bible 2020

Nehemiah 5

Charging Interest Abolished

1Nowthere was a greatגְּדוֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH1419outcryצַעֲקַ֥תtza.'a.KatH6818of the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971and of their wivesוּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖םu.ne.shei.HemH802againstאֶל־'el-H413theirJewishהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064brothersאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם'a.chei.HemH251.

2For thereH3426wereH3426those whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834saidאֹמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559, “We, our sonsבָּנֵ֥ינוּba.Nei.nuH1121,and our daughtersוּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּu.ve.no.Tei.nuH1323are manyרַבִּ֑יםra.BimH7227; therefore let’sgetוְנִקְחָ֥הve.nik.ChahH3947grainדָגָ֖ןda.GanH1715so that we may eatוְנֹאכְלָ֥הve.no.khe.LahH398and liveוְנִחְיֶֽה׃ve.nich.YehH2421.”

3And thereH3426wereH3426otherswhoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834saidאֹמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559, “We are mortgagingעֹרְבִ֑ים'o.re.VimH6148our fieldsשְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּse.do.Tei.nuH7704,our vineyardsוּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּu.khe.ra.Mei.nuH3754,and our housesוּבָתֵּ֖ינוּu.va.Tei.nuH1004so that we might getוְנִקְחָ֥הve.nik.ChahH3947grainדָגָ֖ןda.GanH1715because of the famineבָּרָעָֽב׃ba.ra.'AvH7458.”

4ThereH3426also wereH3426those whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834saidאֹמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559, “We have borrowedלָוִ֥ינוּla.Vi.nuH3867moneyכֶ֖סֶףKhe.sefH3701for the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428taxלְמִדַּ֣תle.mi.DatH4060onour fieldsשְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּse.do.Tei.nuH7704and our vineyardsוּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃u.khe.ra.Mei.nuH3754.

5And nowוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258our fleshכִּבְשַׂ֤רkiv.SarH1320is like the fleshבְּשָׂרֵ֔נוּbe.sa.Re.nuH1320of our brothersאַחֵ֙ינוּ֙'a.Chei.nuH251,our childrenכִּבְנֵיהֶ֖םkiv.nei.HemH1121like their childrenבָּנֵ֑ינוּba.Nei.nuH1121.Yet beholdוְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.NehH2009,we are forcingH3533our sonsבָּנֵ֨ינוּba.Nei.nuH1121and our daughtersבְּנֹתֵ֜ינוּbe.no.Tei.nuH1323to be slavesלַעֲבָדִ֗יםla.'a.va.DimH5650,and someH4480of our daughtersמִבְּנֹתֵ֤ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323are forcedH3533intoH3533bondageH3533already, andwe are helplessוְאֵ֣ין לְאֵ֣ל יָדֵ֔נוּve.'Ein le.'El ya.De.nuH369 H410 H3027because our fieldsוּשְׂדֹתֵ֥ינוּu.se.do.Tei.nuH7704and vineyardsוּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּu.khe.ra.Mei.nuH3754belong to othersלַאֲחֵרִֽים׃la.'a.che.RimH312.”

6Then I wasH2734veryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966angryH2734whenH3512I heardשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙sha.Ma'.tiH8085their outcryזַֽעֲקָתָ֔םza.'a.ka.TamH2201and theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃ha.'E.lehH428wordsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםha.de.va.RimH1697.

7So I thoughtלִבִּ֜יli.BiH4427 H3820it overH4427and contendedוָאָרִ֙יבָה֙va.'a.Ri.vahH7378with the noblesהַחֹרִ֣יםha.cho.RimH2715and the leadingH5461peopleH5461,and saidוָאֹמְרָ֣הva.'o.me.RahH559to them, “You are lendingH5377at interestמַשָּׁ֥אma.Sha'H4855,eachאִישׁ־'ish-H376to his brotherבְּאָחִ֖יוbe.'a.ChivH251!”Therefore, I heldוָאֶתֵּ֥ןva.'e.TenH5414a greatגְדוֹלָֽה׃ge.do.LahH1419assemblyקְהִלָּ֥הke.hi.LahH6952againstH5921them.

8And I saidוָאֹמְרָ֣הva.'o.me.RahH559to them, “We, according to our abilityכְּדֵ֣יke.DeiH1767, haveredeemedקָ֠נִינוּKa.ni.nuH7069our Jewishהַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064brothersאַחֵ֨ינוּ'a.Chei.nuH251who were soldהַנִּמְכָּרִ֤יםha.nim.ka.RimH4376to the nationsלַגּוֹיִם֙la.go.YimH1471;now would you evenוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571sellתִּמְכְּר֥וּtim.ke.RuH4376your brothersאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם'a.chei.KhemH251that they may be soldוְנִמְכְּרוּ־ve.nim.ke.ru-H4376to us?” Then they wereH2790silentוַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּvai.ya.cha.Ri.shuH2790and could not findמָצְא֖וּma.tze.'UH4672a wordדָּבָֽר׃ סda.VarH1697to say.

9So I saidוָאוֹמַ֕רvai.yo.merH559, “The thingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834you are doingעֹשִׂ֑ים'o.SimH6213is not goodט֥וֹבTovH2896;should you not walkתֵּלֵ֔כוּte.Le.khuH1980in the fearבְּיִרְאַ֤תbe.yir.'AtH3374of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nuH430becauseH4480ofthe tauntingמֵחֶרְפַּ֖תme.cher.PatH2781of the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֥םha.go.YimH1471,our enemiesH340?

10And likewiseוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571I, my brothersאַחַ֣י'a.ChaiH251,and my servantsוּנְעָרַ֔יu.ne.'a.RaiH5288are lendingנֹשִׁ֥יםno.ShimH5383them moneyכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and grainוְדָגָ֑ןve.da.GanH1715.Pleaseנָּ֖אna'H4994, let’sdoH5800withoutH5800thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088interestהַמַּשָּׁ֥אha.ma.Sha'H4855.

11Pleaseנָ֨אna'H4994,giveH7725backH7725to them this very dayכְּהַיּ֗וֹםke.hai.YomH3117their fieldsשְׂדֹתֵיהֶ֛םse.do.tei.HemH7704,their vineyardsכַּרְמֵיהֶ֥םkar.mei.HemH3754,their oliveזֵיתֵיהֶ֖םzei.tei.HemH2132grovesH2132,and their housesוּבָתֵּיהֶ֑םu.va.tei.HemH1004,as well as the hundredthוּמְאַ֨תu.me.'AtH3967partof the moneyהַכֶּ֤סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701and of the grainוְהַדָּגָן֙ve.ha.da.GanH1715,the newהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁha.ti.Ro.oshH8492wineH8492,and the oilוְהַיִּצְהָ֔רve.hai.yitz.HarH3323that you are chargingH5383asH5383interestH5383from them.”

12Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Wewill giveH7725itbackH7725andwill requireנְבַקֵּ֔שׁne.va.KeshH1245nothingלֹ֣אlo'H3808from them; we will doנַעֲשֶׂ֔הna.'a.SehH6213exactlyכֵּ֣ןkenH3651as you sayאוֹמֵ֑ר'o.MerH559.”So I calledוָאֶקְרָא֙va.'ek.Ra'H7121the priestsהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםha.Ko.ha.NimH3548and made themtakeH7650anH7650oathוָֽאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔םva.'ash.bi.'EmH7650to actלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213in accordance with thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088promiseכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

13Ialsoגַּם־gam-H1571shookH5287outH5287thefrontH2684ofH2684my garmentH2684and saidוָֽאֹמְרָ֡הva.'o.me.RahH559, “Soכָּ֣כָהKa.khahH3602may Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֟יםha.'E.lo.HimH430shakeH5287outH5287everyכָּל־kol-H3605personהָאִישׁ֩ha.'IshH376from his houseמִבֵּיתוֹ֙mi.bei.ToH1004and from his possessionsוּמִ֣יגִיע֔וֹu.Mi.gi.'OH3018whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834does not keepיָקִ֜יםya.KimH6965thisהַזֶּ֗הha.ZehH2088promiseהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697;just soוְכָ֛כָהve.Kha.khahH3602may he be shakenH5287outH5287and emptiedוָרֵ֑קva.RekH7386.” Andallכָֽל־khol-H3605the assemblyהַקָּהָ֜לha.ka.HalH6951saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Amenאָמֵ֗ן'a.MenH543!”And they praisedוַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙vay.ha.LuH1984the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068.Then the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971actedוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213in accordance with thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088promiseכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

Nehemiah’s Example

14Furthermoreגַּ֞םgamH1571,sinceH4480the dayמִיּ֣וֹם׀mi.YomH3117that I was appointedצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680to be their governorפֶּחָם֮pe.ChamH6346in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Judahיְהוּדָה֒ye.hu.DahH3063, fromthe twentiethעֶשְׂרִ֗ים'es.RimH6242yearמִשְּׁנַ֣תmi.she.NatH8141to thethirty-secondשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙she.lo.Shim u.she.Ta.yimH7970 H8147yearשְׁנַ֨תshe.NatH8141of Kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783,for twelveשְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֑הshe.Teim 'es.RehH8147 H6240yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141,neitherH3808I norH3808my kinsmenוְאַחַ֔יve.'a.ChaiH251have eatenאָכַֽלְתִּי׃'a.Khal.tiH398the governor’sהַפֶּ֖חָהha.Pe.chahH6346foodלֶ֥חֶםLe.chemH3899allowance.

15But the previousהָרִאשֹׁנִ֨יםha.ri.sho.NimH7223governorsוְהַפַּחוֹת֩ve.ha.pa.chOtH6346whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834were beforeלְפָנַ֜יle.fa.NaiH6440melaidH3513burdensH3513on the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971and tookוַיִּקְח֨וּvai.yik.ChuH3947from them breadבְּלֶ֤חֶםbe.Le.chemH3899and wineוָיַ֙יִן֙va.Ya.yinH3196besidesאַחַר֙'a.CharH310fortyאַרְבָּעִ֔ים'ar.ba.'ImH705shekelsשְׁקָלִ֣יםshe.ka.LimH8255of silverכֶּֽסֶף־ke.sef-H3701;evenגַּ֥םgamH1571their servantsנַעֲרֵיהֶ֖םna.'a.rei.HemH5288domineeredשָׁלְט֣וּshal.TuH7980the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971.But I did not doעָשִׂ֣יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213soכֵ֔ןKhenH3651becauseמִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.NeiH4480 H6440of myfearיִרְאַ֥תyir.'AtH3374of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430.

16I alsoוְ֠גַםVe.gamH1571appliedהֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּיhe.che.Zak.tiH2388myself to the workבִּמְלֶ֜אכֶתbim.Le.khetH4399on thisH2088wallהַחוֹמָ֤הha.cho.MahH2346;we did not buyקָנִ֑ינוּka.Ni.nuH7069any landוְשָׂדֶ֖הve.sa.DehH7704,and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605my servantsנְעָרַ֔יne.'a.RaiH5288were gatheredקְבוּצִ֥יםke.vu.TzimH6908thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033for the workהַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ha.me.la.KhahH4399.

17Moreover, there wereat my tableשֻׁלְחָנִֽי׃shul.cha.NiH7979150מֵאָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣יםme.'Ah va.cha.mi.ShimH3967 H2572Jewsוְהַיְּהוּדִ֨יםve.hai.ye.hu.DimH3064and officialsוְהַסְּגָנִ֜יםve.ha.se.ga.NimH5461,besides those who cameוְהַבָּאִ֥יםve.ha.ba.'ImH935to us from the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֥םha.go.YimH1471that were aroundסְבִיבֹתֵ֖ינוּse.vi.vo.Tei.nuH5439us.

18Nowthat whichוַאֲשֶׁר֩va.'a.SherH834was preparedנַעֲשֶׂ֜הna.'a.SehH6213for each dayלְי֣וֹםle.YomH3117was oneH259oxשׁ֣וֹרShorH7794andsixשֵׁשׁ־shesh-H8337choiceבְּרֻר֤וֹתbe.ru.RotH1305sheepצֹ֠אןtzonH6629;also birdsוְצִפֳּרִים֙ve.tzi.po.RimH6833were preparedנַֽעֲשׂוּ־na.'a.su-H6213for me, and everyוּבֵ֨יןu.VeinH996tenעֲשֶׂ֧רֶת'a.Se.retH6235daysיָמִ֛יםya.MimH3117allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605sorts ofwineיַ֖יִןYa.yinH3196were providedin abundanceלְהַרְבֵּ֑הle.har.BehH7235. Yet for allthisזֶ֗הZehH2088I did not requestבִקַּ֔שְׁתִּיvi.Kash.tiH1245the governor’sהַפֶּחָה֙ha.pe.ChahH6346foodלֶ֤חֶםLe.chemH3899allowance,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the forcedH5656laborH5656wasH3513heavyכָֽבְדָ֥הkha.ve.DahH3513on thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971.

19Rememberזָכְרָה־za.khe.rah-H2142me, my Godאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430,for goodH2899, in return forallכֹּ֥לkolH3605that I have doneעָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213for thisהַזֶּֽה׃ פha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971.

Charging Interest Abolished

Nehemiah’s Example

Commentaries on Nehemiah 5