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Nehemiah 5
New International Version
Nehemiah 5
New International Version
Nehemiah Helps the Poor
5 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields,(A) our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”(B)
4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax(C) on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood(D) as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery.(E) Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”(F)
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!”(G) So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought(H) back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.(I)
9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach(J) of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest!(K) 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest(L) you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath(M) to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook(N) out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,”(O) and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(P) when I was appointed to be their governor(Q) in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God(R) I did not act like that. 16 Instead,(S) I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we[b] did not acquire any land.
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry(T) were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.
19 Remember(U) me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 5:15 That is, about 1 pound or about 460 grams
- Nehemiah 5:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac I
Nehemiah 5
New King James Version
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
느헤미야 5
Korean Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
느헤미야 5
Korean Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
느헤미야가 가난한 사람들을 돕다
5 일반 백성과 그들의 아내들 가운데서 같은 유다 사람들을 원망하는 소리가 일고 있었다. 2 이들 가운데 어떤 사람들은 이렇게 말하고 있었다. “우리는 아들과 딸이 많아 식구가 많다. 그러니 입에 풀칠이라도 하려면 조금이라도 곡식을 구해야 한다.” 3 또 어떤 사람들은 이렇게 말하고 있었다. “우리는 기근[a]이 들면 양식을 구하려고 밭과 포도원과 집을 몽땅 저당 잡히고[b] 있다.” 4 또 어떤 사람들은 이렇게 말하였다. “우리는 왕에게 세금을 바치려고 밭과 포도원을 저당 잡히고 돈을 빌려야만 했다. 5 그런데 우리는 저들과 살과 피를 나눈 같은 유다 사람이 아닌가? 우리의 자식들도 그들의 자식들만큼이나 귀하지 않은가? 그런데 우리는 우리의 아들과 딸을 노예로 팔아야 할 지경에 이르렀다. 우리 가운데 어떤 사람들은 이미 딸들을 노예로 팔았다. 우리의 밭과 포도원이 남의 것이 되어버려 달리 손을 쓸 수 없었기 때문이다.”
6 나는 이들의 울부짖음과 불평을 듣고 몹시 화가 났다. 7 나는 곰곰 생각해 본[c]다음 귀족들과 관리들을 꾸짖어 이렇게 말하였다. “당신들은 모두 동족에게 이자를 받고[d] 돈을 빌려 주고 있소.” 그런 다음 나는 그들과 함께 이 문제를 다루어 보려고 모든 사람을 불러 모았다. 8 그리고 그들에게 말하였다. “우리의 동족인 유다 사람들이 다른 나라 사람들에게 노예로 팔렸던 적이 있소. 그때 우리는 있는 힘을 다하여 그들의 몸값을 치르고 데려왔소. 그런데 지금 당신들은 당신들의 동족을 다시 노예로 팔고 있소. 그들을 다시 사와야 할 사람들은 바로 우리요.”
그들이 아무 말도 못 하고 잠자코 있었다. 9 그리하여 내가 말을 이었다. “당신들이 하고 있는 짓은 옳지 못하오. 당신들은 우리 하나님을 두려워하는 사람들답게 살아야 하지 않겠소? 그래야 우리의 원수들이 우리를 비난하지 못할 것 아니오? 10 나도 나의 친족들도 그리고 내가 부리는 사람들도 모두 돈과 곡식을 빌려 주고 있소. 그러나 이자를 받고 빌려 주는 짓은 그만둡시다. 11 오늘 당장 그들의 밭과 포도원과 올리브 과수원과 집을 돌려주시오. 그리고 그들에게 돈이나 곡식이나 포도주나 기름을 빌려 주고 받은 이자도 돌려주시오.”
12 그러자 그들이 대답하였다. “모두 돌려주겠습니다. 그리고 그들에게 아무것도 더 요구하지 않겠습니다. 말씀하신 대로 다 하겠습니다.”
그리하여 나는 제사장들을 불러 모으고 부자들과 관리들이 자기들이 약속한 것을 제사장들 앞에서 맹세하게 하였다. 13 나는 또한 내 옷 자락의 접힌 곳을 털어 보이며 말하였다. “하나님께서 이 약속을 지키지 않는 사람을 누구든지 그의 집과 재산에서 이렇게 털어내시기 바라오. 그리하여 그가 털려나와 빈털터리가 되기 바라오.”
그러자 모인 사람이 모두 “아멘!” 하면서 주를 찬양하였다. 그리고 그들은 약속한 대로 하였다.
14 나는 아닥사스다 왕 제이십년부터 삼십이년까지 십이 년 동안 유다 땅의 총독으로 있었다. 내가 총독으로 있는 동안 나와 나의 가까운 친족들은 총독 몫으로 나오는 양식을 먹지 않았다. 15 나보다 앞서 다스리던 총독들이 백성에게 무거운 짐을 지웠다. 그들은 날마다 백성에게서 은 사십 세겔[e]과 양식과 포도주를 거두어 들였다. 그리고 그들 밑에서 일하던 관리들도 백성을 괴롭혔다. 그러나 나는 하나님이 두려워서 그런 짓을 하지 않았다. 16 나는 예루살렘 성벽 쌓는 일에만 힘을 기울였다. 내 아랫사람들도 모두 그곳에 모여 일하였다. 그렇다고 하여 우리[f]가 땅 한 조각 모은 것도 아니다.
17 나의 식탁에는 우리 둘레에 있는 여러 나라에서 찾아 온 손님들 말고도, 유다 사람들과 관리들 백오십 명이 늘 나와 함께 앉아 음식을 나누었다. 18 그리하여 나는 날마다 황소 한 마리와 살진 양 여섯 마리와 날짐승 몇 마리씩을 잡아야 했다. 그리고 열흘마다 온갖 종류의 포도주를 넉넉하게 마련하여야 했다. 이렇게 하면서도 나는 총독 몫으로 나오게 되어 있는 양식을 요구하지 않았다. 백성들의 짐이 무거웠기 때문이다. 19 오, 나의 하나님. 제가 이 백성에게 베푼 이 모든 일을 보시고 저를 좋게 기억하여 주십시오.
Footnotes
- 5:3 기근 비가 오지 않아 농작물이 말라 죽고 사람과 동물도 굶어 죽거나 목말라 죽게 되는 때.
- 5:3 저당 잡히고 돈을 빌릴 때 빌린 돈을 갚겠다는 약속으로 땅이나 집을 잡히는 것. 갚지 못할 때에는 돈을 빌려 준 사람이 그 땅과 집을 가질 수 있다.
- 5:7 곰곰 생각해 본 또는 ‘마음을 가다듬은’
- 5:7 이자를 받고 모세의 법은 이스라엘 사람이 동족에게 이자를 받고 돈을 빌려 주는 것을 금하고 있다. 신 23:19-20을 볼 것.
- 5:15 사십 세겔 약 0.5킬로그램.
- 5:16 우리 히브리어 사본 가운데 일부와 고대 그리스어여과 라틴어역과 시리아어역에는 ‘내가’.
Nehemiah 5
English Standard Version
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
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Korean Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (KOERV)
Copyright © 2021 by Bible League International
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.