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Nehemiah 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, Ye 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 ye 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 ye do: ought ye not to walk in
the fear of our God 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 oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the
money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing
of them; so will we do as thou sayest. 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 God shake out every man from
his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be
he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the
LORD. 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 that had been before me were chargeable
unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of
silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I,
because of the fear of God.
16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought
we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither 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 that 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 God, for good, according to all that I have
done for this people.
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