尼希米记 5
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
尼希米帮助穷苦人
5 那时，民众和他们的妻子都抱怨他们的犹太同胞。 2 有的说：“我们和我们的儿女人口众多，需要粮食来活命。” 3 有的说：“因为饥荒的缘故，我们要将田地、葡萄园和房屋作抵押来获取粮食。” 4 有的说：“我们要借钱才能缴纳王对我们的田地和葡萄园征收的税。 5 我们和他们是同胞，我们的孩子就像他们的孩子。但现在我们的儿女要被迫成为仆婢，甚至我们的女儿有些已经沦为奴婢。我们却无能为力，因为我们的田地和葡萄园已经归别人了。”
6 听到他们的抱怨后，我非常愤怒。 7 经过深思熟虑后，我便斥责这些贵族和官员，说：“你们竟然向同胞放高利贷！”于是我召开大会处理他们的问题。 8 我对他们说：“我们在尽力赎回那些被卖到外邦的犹太同胞，你们却要卖他们为奴，好让我们再赎回他们吗？”他们都沉默不语，无言以对。 9 我继续说：“你们的所作所为实在不对。难道你们不应该敬畏上帝，以免我们的仇敌凌辱我们吗？ 10 我和我的兄弟及仆人都借钱、借粮给民众，现在我们要停止放高利贷。 11 你们今天就要归还他们的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园和房屋，以及你们向他们所收的五谷、新酒和油的利息。”
12 他们说：“我们会照你的话去做，把东西还给他们，不再向他们索债。”于是，我召来祭司，让这些人起誓遵守自己的诺言。 13 我抖着衣服说：“如果你们不守誓言，愿上帝也这样抖掉你们的家园和你们劳碌得来的，使你们一无所有。”全体会众都说：“阿们！”他们赞美耶和华，民众都遵照誓言去行。
尼希米大公无私
14 从亚达薛西王二十年至三十二年，也就是我奉派为犹大省长的十二年间，我和我的弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。 15 在我之前的省长使民众负担沉重，天天索取食物、酒及五百克银子。他们的仆人也欺压民众，但我因敬畏上帝而没有这样做。 16 我全心修筑城墙，没有购置田产，我的仆人也都参与修建城墙的工作。 17 除了从周围外邦来到我们这里的人之外，还有一百五十名犹太人和官员与我一同吃饭。 18 我每天需要预备一头公牛、六只肥羊和飞禽；每十天还要大量供应各样酒品。即使这样，我仍然没有吃省长的俸禄，因为民众已经负担沉重。 19 我的上帝啊，求你记念我为这些民众所做的一切，施恩于我。
Nehemiah 5
Christian Standard Bible
Social Injustice
5 There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2 Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.”(A) 4 Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax(B) on our fields and vineyards.(C) 5 We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery.(D) Some of our daughters are already enslaved,(E) but we are powerless[a] because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
6 I became extremely angry(F) when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7 After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.”(G) So I called a large assembly against them 8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.”(H) They remained silent and could not say a word.(I) 9 Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God(J) and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?(K) 10 Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let’s stop charging this interest.[b] 11 Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage[c] of the money, grain, new wine, and fresh oil(L) that you have been assessing them.”
12 They responded, “We will return these things and require nothing more from them.(M) We will do as you say.”
So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath(N) to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out(O) and have nothing!”
The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.(P)
Good and Bad Governors
14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes(Q) appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years(R)—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. 15 The governors(S) who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound[d] of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but because of the fear of God, I didn’t do this.(T) 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of this wall,(U) and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land.(V)
17 There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table.(W) 18 Each[e] day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every ten days.(X) But I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.
19 Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.(Y)
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