Nehemiah 5
Holman 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 us 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 olive 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, 12 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 food and wine from them, as well as a pound[d] of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God.(T) 16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the 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 10 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)
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 5:5 Lit but there is not the power in our hand
- Nehemiah 5:10 Or us forgive these debts
- Nehemiah 5:11 Lit hundredth
- Nehemiah 5:15 Lit 40 shekels
- Nehemiah 5:18 Lit And that which was prepared each
Nehemiah 5
International Standard Version
Settling Some Civil Disputes
5 Now the people along with their spouses complained loudly against their fellow[a] Jews, 2 because certain of them kept claiming, “Since we have so many sons and daughters, we must get some grain so we can eat and survive.”
3 Others were saying, “We’re having to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes so we can buy grain during this famine.”
4 Still others were saying “We’ve borrowed money against our fields and vineyards to pay the king’s taxes. 5 Now our bodies are no different than the bodies of our relatives, and our children are like their children. Nevertheless, we’re about to force our sons and daughters into slavery, and some of our daughters are already in bondage. It’s beyond our power to do anything about it, because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
6 I became very livid when I heard their complaining and these charges. 7 So after thinking it over carefully, I accused the officials and nobles openly, “Every one of you is charging your fellow countrymen interest!” So I opened a public investigation against them.
8 I accused them, “To the best of our ability, we’ve been buying back our fellow Jews who had been sold to foreigners. Even now you’re selling your fellow countrymen, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet and never spoke a word.
9 So I said, “What you’re doing isn’t right! Shouldn’t you live in the fear of our God to avoid shame from our foreign enemies? 10 I’m also lending money and grain, as are my fellow-Jews and my servants, but let’s not charge interest. 11 So today please restore to them their fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and homes, along with the one percent interest charge[b] that you’ve assessed them on the grain, wine, and oil.”
12 They responded, “We will restore these things,[c] and will assess no interest charges[d] against them. We will do what you are requesting!”
So I called the priests and made them take an oath to fulfill this promise. 13 I also shook my robes,[e] and said, “May God shake out every man from his house and his possessions who does not keep this promise. May he be emptied out and shaken just like this.”
All the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. And the people kept their promise.
Nehemiah Refuses the Governor’s Allotment
14 In addition, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah (that is, during the twelve years from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes), neither I nor my relatives relied on the provisions[f] allotted to the governor. 15 Nevertheless, the former governors before me placed a heavy burden on the people. They received food and wine, plus a tax of[g] 40 shekels[h] of silver. Even their young men took advantage of the people, but I never did so because I feared God.
16 Also, as I continued to work on the wall, we purchased no land, and all of my young men were employed in the work. 17 I fed 150 Jews and officials every day, not counting those who came from the nations around us. 18 Our daily requirements were one ox and six choice sheep, along with various kinds of poultry prepared for me. Every ten days there was a delivery of an abundant supply of wine. Despite all this, I refused the governor’s allotment,[i] because demands on the people were heavy.
19 “Remember me with favor, my God, for everything I’ve done for this people.”
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 5:1 I.e. wealthy
- Nehemiah 5:11 Lit. the one hundredth part
- Nehemiah 5:12 The Heb. lacks these things
- Nehemiah 5:12 Lit. will require nothing
- Nehemiah 5:13 Lit. lap
- Nehemiah 5:14 Lit. have eaten the bread
- Nehemiah 5:15 The Heb. lacks a tax of
- Nehemiah 5:15 I.e. about a pound; a shekel weighed about 0.4 ounces
- Nehemiah 5:18 Lit. bread
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