Nehemiah 5

1Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

1Now a great protest arose from the Judean men and their wives against their fellow Jews.

2For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.

2Some were saying, 'We have many sons and daughters; we must get grain so we can eat and stay alive.'

3Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.

3Others were saying, 'We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain because of the famine.'

4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.

4Still others said, 'We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax by putting up our fields and vineyards as collateral.'

5Yet 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.

5'We are the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we are forced to sell our sons and daughters into slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards now belong to others.'

6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became very angry.

7Then 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.

7After thinking it over, I confronted the nobles and officials. I told them, 'You are charging interest against your own relatives!' Then I called a large public meeting to deal with them.

8And 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.

8I said to them, 'As much as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to other nations. Now you are selling your own brothers, only for us to have to buy them back again!' They remained silent because they had nothing to say.

9Also 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?

9I continued, 'What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the insults of our foreign enemies?'

10And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

10'My brothers, my workers, and I are also lending people money and grain. But please, let us stop charging interest.'

11Restore, 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.

11'Give back to them right now their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses. Also, give back the interest you are charging them—the one percent of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.'

12Then 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.

12They replied, 'We will give it back and demand nothing more from them. We will do exactly as you say.' Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they promised.

13Also 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.

13I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, 'In the same way, may God shake out of his house and his possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May he be shaken out and emptied!' All the people said, 'Amen,' and praised the LORD. And the people did what they had promised.

14Moreover 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.

14Furthermore, from the time I was appointed governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, a total of twelve years—neither I nor my relatives ate the food provided for the governor.

15But 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.

15The governors before me had placed a heavy burden on the people, taking food and wine from them, plus forty silver coins. Even their assistants oppressed the people. But I did not do that, because I feared God.

16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

16Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my workers were gathered there for the work.

17Moreover 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.

17I also fed one hundred and fifty Jewish people and officials at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the surrounding nations.碎

18Now 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.

18Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some poultry were prepared for my table. Every ten days we brought in a large supply of all kinds of wine. Despite all this, I never demanded the governor's food allowance, because the work demands were already heavy on the people.

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

19Remember me with favor, my God, for everything I have done for these people.