Nehemiah
5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their
brethren the Jews.
5:2 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.
5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards,
and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
5:4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's
tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5:5 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.
5:6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
5:7 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.
5:8 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.
5:9 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?
5:10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money
and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
5:11 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.
5:12 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.
5:13 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.
5:14 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.
5:15 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.
5:16 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.
5:17 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.
5:18 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.
5:19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for
this people.
