Nehemiah 5

1Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their countrymen the Jews.

1And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews,

2For there were some who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are a great number: let us get grain, so that we may have food for our needs.

2yea, there are who are saying, `Our sons, and our daughters, we--are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'

3And there were some who said, We are giving our fields and our vine-gardens and our houses for debt: let us get grain because we are in need.

3And there are who are saying, `Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'

4And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.

4And there are who are saying, `We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, <FI>on<Fi> our fields, and our vineyards;

5But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children: and now we are giving our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants, and some of our daughters are servants even now: and we have no power to put a stop to it; for other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.

5and now, as the flesh of our brethren <FI>is<Fi> our flesh, as their sons <FI>are<Fi> our sons, and lo, we are subduing our sons and our daughters for servants, and there are of our daughters subdued, and our hand hath no might, and our fields and our vineyards <FI>are<Fi> to others.'

6And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry.

6And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

7And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest.

7and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, `Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly,

8And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word.

8and say to them, `We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that <FI>is<Fi> in us, and ye also sell your brethren, and they have been sold to us!' and they are silent, and have not found a word.

9And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our God, because of the shame which the nations may put on us?

9And I say, `Not good <FI>is<Fi> the thing that ye are doing; in the fear of our God do ye not walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

10Even I and my servants have been taking interest for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give up this thing.

10And also, I, my brethren, and my servants, are exacting of them silver and corn; let us leave off, I pray you, this usury.

11Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil which you have taken from them.

11Give back, I pray you, to them, as to-day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, and the hundredth <FI>part<Fi> of the money, and of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil, that ye are exacting of them.'

12Then they said, We will give them back, and take nothing for them; we will do as you say. Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement.

12And they say, `We give back, and of them we seek nothing; so we do as thou art saying.' And I call the priests, and cause them to swear to do according to this thing;

13And shaking out the folds of my robe, I said, So may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement; even so let him be sent out and made as nothing. And all the meeting of the people said, So be it, and gave praise to the Lord. And the people did as they had said.

13also, my lap I have shaken, and I say, `Thus doth God shake out every man, who doth not perform this thing, from his house, and from his labour; yea, thus is he shaken out and empty;' and all the assembly say, `Amen,' and praise Jehovah; and the people do according to this thing.

14Now from the time when I was made ruler of the people in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year till the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, I and my servants have never taken the food which was the right of the ruler.

14Also, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes the king--twelve years--I, and my brethren, the bread of the governor have not eaten:

15But earlier rulers who were before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver; and even their servants were lords over the people: but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

15the former governors who <FI>are<Fi> before me have made themselves heavy on the people, and take of them in bread and wine, besides in silver forty shekels; also, their servants have ruled over the people--and I have not done so, because of the fear of God.

16And I kept on with the work of this wall, and we got no land for ourselves: and all my servants were helping with the work.

16And also, in the work of this wall I have done mightily, even a field we have not bought, and all my servants are gathered there for the work;

17And more than this, a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers were guests at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the nations round about us.

17and of the Jews, and of the prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in unto us of the nations that <FI>are<Fi> round about us, <FI>are<Fi> at my table;

18Now the food made ready for one day was one ox and six fat sheep, as well as fowls; and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine: but all the same, I did not take the food to which the ruler had a right, because the people were crushed under a hard yoke.

18and that which hath been prepared for one day <FI>is<Fi> one ox, six fat sheep, also fowls have been prepared for me, and once in ten days of all wines abundantly, and with this, the bread of the governor I have not sought, for heavy is the service on this people.

19Keep in mind, O my God, for my good, all I have done for this people.

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