Nehemiah Helps the Poor

5 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.

⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(A) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(B) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^(C)

⁶ But instead, one brother^(A) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!^(B)

⁷ The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?^{(C) 8} Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.^(D)

²⁶ The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out^(A) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

⁷ If anyone is poor^(A) among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted^(B) toward them. ⁸ Rather, be openhanded^(C) and freely lend them whatever they need. ⁹ Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,^(D) is near,” so that you do not show ill will^(E) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.^{(F) 10} Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;^(G) then because of this the Lord your God will bless^(H) you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people^(I) in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.^(J)