Neh 5
1
Then there arose 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; let us get for
them corn, that we may eat and live.'
3
Some also there were that said: 'We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards,
and our houses; let us get corn, because of the dearth.'
4
There were also that said: 'We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our
fields and our 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 into bondage already; neither is it in our power to help
it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.'
6
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said
unto them: 'Ye lend upon pledge, every one to his brother.' And I held a great assembly
against them.
8
And I said unto them: 'We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that
sold themselves unto the heathen; and would ye nevertheless sell your brethren, and
should they sell themselves unto us?' Then held they their peace, and found never
a word.
9
Also 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 heathen our enemies?
10
And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and corn. I pray
you, let us leave off this exaction.
11
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their
oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundred pieces of silver, and 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, even 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 out 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 were before me laid burdens upon the people, and took
of them for bread and wine above forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants
lorded over the people; but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16
Yea, also I set hand to 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 of the Jews and the rulers a hundred and fifty men,
beside those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.
18
Now 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 service was heavy upon
this people.
19
Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.