Nehemiah 5

1Then there aroseH1419 a greatH1419 cryH6818 of the peopleH5971 and of their wivesH802 againstH413 their brethrenH251 the JewsH3064. 2For there were that saidH559, WeH587, our sonsH1121 and our daughtersH1323, are manyH7227: let usH559 getH3947 corn, that weH587 may eatH398 and liveH2421. 3Some also there were that saidH559, WeH587 are mortgagingH6148 our fieldsH7704, and our vineyardsH3754, and our housesH1004: let usH559 getH3947 corn, becauseH834 of the dearth. 4There were also that saidH559, WeH834 have borrowed moneyH3701 for the king’sH4428 tribute upon our fieldsH7704 and our vineyardsH3754. 5Yet nowH6258 our fleshH1320 is as the fleshH1320 of our brethrenH251, our childrenH1121 as their childrenH1121: and, loH2009, weH587 bringH1323 intoH3027 bondageH5650 our sonsH1121 and our daughtersH1323 to be servantsH5650, and someH2009 of our daughtersH1323 are broughtH3533 intoH3027 bondageH5650 alreadyH6258: neitherH369 is it in our powerH3027 to helpH1323 it; for otherH312 menH1121 have our fieldsH7704 and our vineyardsH3754. 6And I was veryH3966 angryH2734 when I heardH8085 their cryH2201 and theseH428 wordsH1697. 7Then I consulted with myselfH3820, and contendedH7378 with the noblesH2715 and the rulersH5461, and saidH559 unto them, Ye exact usuryH4855, everyH376 one of his brotherH251. And I heldH5414 a greatH1419 assemblyH6952 againstH5921 them. 8And I saidH559 unto them, WeH587 afterH1767 our abilityH1767 have redeemedH7069 our brethrenH251 the JewsH3064, whichH1471 were soldH4376 unto the heathen; and would ye evenH1571 sellH4376 your brethrenH251, and should they be soldH4376 unto usH559? Then held they their peace, and foundH4672 neverH3808 a wordH1697. 9Also I saidH559, The thingH1697 that ye doH6213 is notH3808 goodH2896: ought ye notH3808 to walk in the fearH3374 of our GodH430, becauseH834 of the reproachH2781 of the heathen our enemiesH341? 10And I likewise, my brethrenH251 and my servantsH5288, doH589 lend them moneyH3701 and corn on usuryH4855. I prayH4994 youH853, letH4994 usH4994 leaveH5800 offH853 this usuryH4855. 11RestoreH7725, I prayH4994 youH859, to them, even this dayH3117, their fieldsH7704, their vineyardsH3754, their oliveyards, and their housesH1004, also the hundredthH3967 partH859 of the moneyH3701, and of the corn, the wineH8492, and the oilH3323, that ye exact of them. 12Then saidH559 they, WeH834 will restoreH7725 them, and will requireH1245 nothingH3808 of them; soH3651 will weH834 doH6213, evenH3808 as thou sayest. Then I calledH7121 the priestsH3548, and tookH853 an oathH7650 of them, that they should doH6213 according to this promiseH1697. 13Also I shookH5287 outH3605 my lap, and saidH559, SoH6213 GodH430 shakeH5287 outH3605 everyH3605 manH376 from his houseH1004, and from his labour, that performeth notH3808 this promiseH1697; evenH1571 thusH3602 be he shakenH5287 outH3605, and emptiedH7386. And allH3605 the congregationH6951 saidH559, AmenH543, and praisedH1984 the LORDH3068. And the peopleH5971 didH6213 accordingH3602 to this promiseH1697. 14MoreoverH1571 from the time that I was appointedH6680 to be their governorH6346 in the landH776 of JudahH3063, from the twentiethH6242 yearH8141 evenH1571 unto the twoH8147 and thirtiethH7970 yearH8141 of ArtaxerxesH783 the kingH4428, that is, twelveH6240 yearsH8141, I and my brethrenH251 have notH3808 eatenH398 the breadH3899 of the governorH6346. 15But the formerH7223 governorsH6346 that were beforeH6440 meH6440 were chargeable unto the peopleH5971, and tookH3947 of them breadH3899 and wineH3196, besideH5921 fortyH705 shekelsH8255 of silverH3701; yea, evenH1571 their servantsH5288 bare rule over the peopleH5971: but soH3651 didH6213 notH3808 I, becauseH5921 of the fearH3374 of GodH430. 16Yea, also I continued in the workH4399 of this wallH2346, neitherH3808 boughtH7069 weH8033 anyH3605 landH7704: and allH3605 my servantsH5288 were gatheredH6908 thither unto the workH4399. 17Moreover there were at my tableH7979 of the JewsH3064 and the rulersH5461 an hundredH3967 and fiftyH2572 menH376, besideH5921 thoseH834 that cameH935 unto usH413 from among the heathen that were roundH5439 aboutH5439 usH413. 18NowH1961 that whichH834 was preparedH6213 for one dayH3117 was one oxH7794 and sixH8337 choiceH1305 sheepH6629; also fowls were preparedH6213 for meH5921, and onceH259 in tenH6235 daysH3117 store of allH3605 sorts of wineH3196: yet for allH3605 this I demanded notH3808 the breadH3899 of the governorH6346, becauseH3588 the bondageH5656 was heavyH3513 uponH5921 this peopleH5971. 19RememberH2142 unto meH5921, O my GodH430, for goodH2896, allH3605 that I have doneH6213 for this peopleH5971.