Nehemja 5
Svenska Folkbibeln
Förtryck av de fattiga
5 Men männen och deras hustrur började klaga högt över sina judiska bröder. 2 Några sade: "Med våra söner och döttrar är vi många. Vi måste få säd, så att vi har något att äta och kan överleva." 3 Andra sade: "Våra åkrar, vingårdar och hus måste vi pantsätta för att få säd att stilla vår hunger med." 4 Andra åter sade: "Vi har varit tvungna att låna pengar på våra åkrar och vingårdar för att betala skatten åt kungen. 5 Vi är av samma kött och blod som våra bröder, och våra barn är som deras barn. Men ändå måste vi låta våra söner och döttrar bli slavar. Ja, några av våra döttrar har redan blivit slavar, och vi står maktlösa. Och våra åkrar och vingårdar är i andras händer."
6 Jag blev mycket upprörd när jag hörde vad de sade och hur de klagade. 7 Jag överlade med mig själv och förebrådde de förnäma männen och föreståndarna, och sade till dem: "Det är ocker ni bedriver mot era bröder!" Därefter kallade jag samman en stor folkförsamling mot dem. 8 Jag sade till dem: "Vi har efter förmåga friköpt våra judiska bröder, som var sålda åt hednafolken. Skall nu ni sälja era egna bröder? Eller skall de sälja sig åt oss?" De teg och kunde inte svara ett ord. 9 Jag sade: "Det ni gör är inte rätt. Borde ni inte vandra i fruktan för vår Gud, så att våra fiender, hednafolken, inte får orsak att håna oss? 10 Också jag och mina bröder och mina tjänare har lånat dem pengar och säd. Låt oss nu avstå från vår fordran. 11 Lämna redan idag tillbaka till dem deras åkrar, vingårdar, olivplanteringar och hus, och tag inte ut den ränta på pengarna, säden, vinet och oljan som ni har att fordra av dem." 12 De svarade: "Vi skall ge tillbaka det och inte utkräva något av dem. Vi skall göra som du har sagt." Sedan jag hade kallat till mig prästerna, lät jag dem svära på att de skulle göra som de hade lovat. 13 Dessutom skakade jag framstycket på min mantel och sade: "Var och en som inte håller sitt löfte, honom må Gud skaka bort från hans hem och allt han äger. Ja, han skall bli utskakad och berövad allt." Och hela församlingen sade: "Amen!", och de prisade Herren. Därefter gjorde folket som de hade lovat.
Nehemjas uppoffringar för byggnadsarbetet
14 Ända från den dag då jag utsågs till ståthållare över dem i Juda land, från kung Artasastas tjugonde regeringsår till hans trettioandra, tolv år, åt varken jag eller mina bröder den mat som en ståthållare har rätt till. 15 Tidigare ståthållare, de som var före mig, hade lagt bördor på folket och tagit mat och vin av dem och dessutom fyrtio siklar silver. Även deras tjänare uppträdde som herrar mot folket. Men så gjorde inte jag, för jag fruktade Gud. 16 Jag fortsatte också att arbeta på muren, och vi köpte oss ingen åker, och alla mina tjänare tog del i arbetet där. 17 Och vid mitt bord åt etthundrafemtio man av judarna och deras föreståndare, förutom de som kom till oss från folken runt omkring. 18 Varje dag tillagades på min bekostnad en oxe, sex utsökta får och dessutom fåglar. Var tionde dag skaffades en mängd vin av olika sorter. Ändå krävde jag inte att få ut det underhåll som ståthållaren hade rätt till, eftersom arbetet tyngde folket så hårt. 19 Tänk, min Gud, på allt vad jag har gjort för detta folk och räkna mig det till godo.
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
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
1996, 1998 by Stiftelsen Svenska Folkbibeln
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
