Nehemiah Helps the Poor
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 andnthen accused the nobles and officials.
I told them, "You are exacting usury 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 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 ever man who does not kreep
this promise. So may such a man bw 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 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.
