Nehemiah 5
5And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.H1419H6818H5971H802H251H30642For 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.H3426H559H1121H1323H7227H3947H1715H398H24213Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.H3426H559H6148H7704H3754H1004H3947H1715H74584There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.H3426H559H3867H3701H4428H4060H7704H37545Yet 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.H1320H1320H251H1121H1121H3533H1121H1323H5650H1323H3426H3533H410H3027H312H7704H37546And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.H3966H2734H8085H2201H16977Then 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.H4427H3820H7378H2715H5461H559H5378H5383H5375H4855H376H251H5414H1419H69528And 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.H559H1767H7069H251H3064H4376H1471H4376H251H4376H2790H4672H16979Also 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?H559H2896H1697H6213H3212H3374H430H2781H1471H34110I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.H251H5288H5383H3701H1715H5800H485511Restore, 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.H7725H3117H7704H3754H2132H1004H3967H3701H1715H8492H3323H538312Then 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.H559H7725H1245H6213H559H7121H3548H7650H6213H169713Also 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.H5287H2684H559H430H5287H376H1004H3018H6965H1697H5287H7386H6951H559H543H1984H3068H5971H6213H169714Moreover 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.H3117H6680H6346H776H3063H6242H8141H8147H7970H8141H783H4428H8147H6240H8141H251H398H3899H634615But 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.H7223H6346H6440H3513H5971H3947H3899H3196H310H705H8255H3701H1571H5288H7980H5971H6213H6440H3374H43016Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.H2388H4399H2346H7069H7704H5288H6908H439917Moreover 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.H7979H3967H2572H376H3064H5461H935H1471H543918Now 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.H6213H3117H259H7794H8337H1305H6629H6833H6213H6235H3117H7235H3196H5973H1245H3899H6346H5656H3513H597119Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.H2142H430H2896H6213H5971
Columbus, OH
