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Nehemiah
Chapter 5
1
And there was a great cry of the people
and
of their wives
against
their brethren the Jews.
2
For there were that said,
"We,
our sons, and our daughters, are many.
Therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live."
3
Some also there were that said,
"We
have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses,
that
we might buy corn, because of the dearth."
4
There were also that said,
"We
have borrowed money for the king's tribute,
and
that upon our lands and vineyards. 5
Yet
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 unto bondage already.
Neither
is it in our power to redeem them . . .
for
other men have our lands and vineyards."
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7
Then I consulted with myself,
and
I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers,
and
said unto them,
"You
exact usury, every one of his brother.
And I set a great assembly against them."
8
And I said unto them,
"We,
after our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews,
which
were sold unto the heathen.
And will you even sell your brethren?
Or shall they be sold unto us?"
Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9
Also I said,
"It
is not good that you do.
Ought
you not to walk in the fear/respect
of
our 'Elohiym/Godhead
because
of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10
I
likewise, and my brethren, and my servants,
might
exact of them money and corn.
I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11
Restore,
I pray you, to them, even this day,
their
lands, their vineyards, their olive-yards,
and
their houses,
also
the hundredth part of the money,
and
of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that you exact of them."
12
Then they said,
"We
will restore them, and will require nothing of them . . .
so
will we do as you say."
Then
I called the priests,
and
took an oath of them,
that
they should do according to this promise.
13
Also I shook my lap, and said,
"So
'Elohiym/Godhead shake out every man from his house,
and
from his labor,
who
performs not this promise,
even
thus be he shaken out, and emptied."
And
all the congregation said,
"Amen"
. . . and praised Jehovah/God.
And the people did according to this promise.
14
Moreover 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.
15
But the former governors
who
had been before me were chargeable unto the people,
and
had taken of them bread and wine,
beside
forty shekels of silver.
Yes,
even their servants bare rule over the people . . .
but
so did not I,
because
of the repect/fear of 'Elohiym/Godhead.
16
Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall,
neither
bought we any land.
And all my servants were gathered here unto the work.
17
Moreover there were at my table
an
hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers,
beside
those that came unto us
from
among the heathen who are about us.
18
Now that which was prepared for me daily
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 required not I the bread of the governor,
because
the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19
Think upon me, my 'Elohiym/Godhead, for good,
according
to all that I have done for this people.
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