Nehemiah 5
Maori Bible
5 Katahi ka nui atu te karanga a te iwi, ratou ko a ratou wahine, he whakahe mo o ratou tuakana, teina, mo nga Hurai.
2 I reira hoki etahi e mea ana, Ko matou, ko a matou tama, me a matou tamahine, he tokomaha; tatou ki te hoko witi, kia kai ai tatou, kia ora ai.
3 I reira hoki etahi e ki ana, Kua waiho o matou whenua, a matou mara waina, o matou whare hei taunaha; tatou ki te hoko witi mo te matekai.
4 Me etahi hoki e ki ana, Kua riro mai he moni tarewa i a matou hei takoha me te kingi; ko o matou whenua, ko a matou mara waina te tarewatanga.
5 Na rite tonu o matou kikokiko ki nga kikokiko o o matou tuakana; rite tonu a matou tamariki ki a ratou tamariki: nana, e whakaponongatia ana e matou a matou tama me a matou tamahine, hei pononga, kua oti ano etahi o a matou tamahine te mea hei po nonga, kahore hoki a matou mea hei whakahoki mai; no te mea kei nga tangata ke o matou whenua, a matou mara waina.
6 Na nui atu toku riri i toku rongonga i ta ratou karanga, i enei kupu.
7 Katahi ka whakaaroaroa e toku ngakau i roto i ahau, a ka totohe ahau ki nga rangatira me nga tangata rarahi; i ki atu hoki ahau ki a ratou, E tangohia ana e koutou he moni whakatupu i tona teina, i tona teina. Na tu ana i ahau he hui nui hei whak ahe mo ratou.
8 I mea ano ahau ki a ratou, Kua poto ta matou hei whakahoki mai i o tatou teina, i nga Hurai, kua oti nei te hoko ki nga tauiwi, a ka hokona atu ano ranei e koutou o koutou tuakana, teina? ka hokona ranei ratou ki a tatou? Katahi ka whakarongo kau ratou, kihai hoki i kitea he kupu ma ratou.
9 I mea ano ahau, Ehara tena i te mea pai e mea na koutou; kaua ianei koutou e haere i runga i te wehi ki to tatou Atua? kaua ranei e whakaaro ki te tawai mai a o tatou hoariri, a nga tauiwi?
10 Na, ko ahau, ko oku teina, me aku tangata, e tuku ana he moni, he witi ki a ratou mo te moni whakatupu. Tena ra, kia whakarerea atu e tatou tenei mahi tango i te moni whakatupu.
11 Tena, whakahokia atu ki a ratou i tenei ra nei ano o ratou whenua, a ratou mara waina, mara oriwa, me o ratou whare me te wahi whakarau o te moni, o te witi, o te waina, o te hinu, e tangohia nei e koutou i a ratou.
12 Katahi ratou ka ki mai, Me whakahoki atu e matou, e kore ano e tonoa e matou he mea i a ratou: ka rite ta matou e mea ai ki tau i ki mai na. Katahi ka karangatia e ahau nga tohunga, a ka meinga e ahau kia oati, mo tenei kupu kia mahia.
13 I ruperupea ano e ahau te uma o toku, me taku ki ano, Ko te tangata e kore e whakamana i tenei kupu, kia penei ta Ihowa ruperupe i a ia i roto i tona whare, i tana mahi; kia rite ano ia ki tenei te ruperupe, te takoto kau. A ka ki mai te huihui katoa, Amine; ka whakamoemiti ano ratou ki a Ihowa. Na pera tonu te mahi a te iwi.
14 No te ra ano i kiia ai ahau hei kawana mo ratou ki te whenua o Hura, no te rua tekau o nga tau, a tae noa ki te toru tekau ma rua o nga tau o Kingi Arataherehe, ara kotahi tekau ma rua tau, kahore ahau, oku teina ranei, i kai i te taro kawana.
15 Otiia ko nga kawana o mua, ko era i mua i ahau, he taimaha ta ratou ki te iwi: i tangohia hoki e ratou he taro, he waina, i a ratou, me etahi hekere hiriwa e wha tekau; ae ra, i whakatupu rangatira ano a ratou tangata ki te iwi: kihai ia ahau i pera, i wehi hoki ki te Atua.
16 I uaua tonu ano ahau ki te mahi i tenei taiepa, kihai hoki matou i hoko whenua mo matou; i huihuia atu ano hoki aku tangata katoa ki reira ki te mahi.
17 Na, kotahi rau e rima tekau i taku tepu, no nga Hurai, no nga rangatira, haunga era atu i haere mai nei ki a matou i roto i nga iwi i tetahi taha o matou, i tetahi taha.
18 Na, ko nga mea i taka maku i te ra kotahi, kotahi puru, e ono hipi, he mea pai; i taka ano etahi manu naku, a, kotahi i roto i nga ra kotahi tekau, ko nga tu waina katoa, tona nui; na ahakoa ko tenei katoa kihai ahau i mea ki te taro kawana, no te mea he taimaha rawa te hereherenga o tenei iwi.
19 Kia mahara mai ki ahau, e toku Atua, mo te pai, kia rite ki aku mea katoa i mea ai ahau ki tenei iwi.
Nehemiah 5
King James Version
5 And there was 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: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and 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 unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 5
English Standard Version
Nehemiah Stops Oppression of the Poor
5 Now there arose (A)a great outcry of the people and of their wives (B)against their Jewish brothers. 2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” 3 There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4 And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for (C)the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 Now (D)our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet (E)we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6 I was very angry when I heard (F)their outcry and these words. 7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, (G)“You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them 8 and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, (H)have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk (I)in the fear of our God (J)to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? 10 Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” 12 Then they said, “We will restore these and (K)require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and (L)made them swear (M)to do as they had promised. 13 (N)I also shook out the fold[a] of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” (O)And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
Nehemiah's Generosity
14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from (P)the twentieth year to (Q)the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, (R)neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration[b] forty shekels[c] of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, (S)because of the fear of God. 16 I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, there were (T)at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 (U)Now what was prepared at my expense[d] for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this (V)I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. 19 (W)Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 5:13 Hebrew bosom
- Nehemiah 5:15 Compare Vulgate; Hebrew took from them for food and wine after
- Nehemiah 5:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
- Nehemiah 5:18 Or prepared for me
Nehemiah 5
New King James Version
Nehemiah Deals with Oppression
5 And there was a great (A)outcry of the people and their wives against their (B)Jewish brethren. 2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
3 There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.”
4 There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now (C)our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we (D)are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”
6 And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, (E)“Each of you is [a]exacting usury from his brother.” So I [b]called a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, “According to our ability we have (F)redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?”
Then they were silenced and found nothing to say. 9 Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk (G)in the fear of our God (H)because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this [c]usury! 11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”
12 So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”
Then I called the priests, (I)and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. 13 Then (J)I shook out [d]the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.”
And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. (K)Then the people did according to this promise.
The Generosity of Nehemiah
14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year (L)until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers (M)ate the governor’s provisions. 15 But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but (N)I did not do so, because of the (O)fear of God. 16 Indeed, I also continued the (P)work on this wall, and [e]we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.
17 And (Q)at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. 18 Now that (R)which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this (S)I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
19 (T)Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 5:7 charging interest
- Nehemiah 5:7 Lit. held
- Nehemiah 5:10 interest
- Nehemiah 5:13 Lit. my lap
- Nehemiah 5:16 So with MT; LXX, Syr., Vg. I
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
