Nehemiah 5

1

Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their

Jewish brothers.

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, our vineyards and

our homes to get grain during the famine."

4

Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the

king's tax on our fields and vineyards.

5

Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and

though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons

and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been

enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards

belong to others."

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 exacting usury from from your own countrymen!"

So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

8

and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who

were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them

to be sold back to us! They kept quiet, because they could find nothing

to say.

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 of our Gentile enemies?

10

I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain.

But let the exacting of usury stop!

11

Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses,

and also the usury you are charging them - the hundredth part of the money,

grain, new wine and 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 to do what they had promised.

13

I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake

out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise.

So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly

said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

14

Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed

to be their governor 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 of silver from them in addition to food

and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence

for God I did not act like that.

16

Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled

there for the work; we 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 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 me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.