The outcry of the people
And there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. Some were saying, We have plenty of sons and daughters. We have to get grain to eat and stay alive. Others were saying, We have mortgaged our fields and our vineyards and our houses to buy grain in the famine. And others were saying, We have borrowed money on our fields and our vineyards to pay the king's tax. And our flesh is the same as our brothers' flesh, and our children the same as their children. Yet here we are, forcing our sons and daughters into slavery — and some of our daughters have already been taken. And we can't do anything about it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. So I thought it over, and then I confronted the nobles and the officials and said to them, Every one of you is charging your own brother interest. And I called a great assembly against them. And I said to them, We have done what we could to buy back our fellow Jews who were sold to the nations. And now you are selling your own brothers, and they will have to be sold back to us. Then they had nothing to say, and couldn't find a word to answer. And I said, What you are doing isn't good. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God, to keep the nations who are our enemies from sneering at us? I and my brothers and my men are also lending them money and grain. Let's drop the interest. Give them back their fields and their vineyards and their olive groves and their houses today, along with the hundredth part of the money and the grain and the new wine and the oil you are charging them. Then they said, We will give it back, and we won't ask anything more of them. We will do just as you say. So I called the priests and made them swear to keep this promise. And I shook out the fold of my robe and said, So may God shake out every man from his house and from what he has earned who doesn't keep this promise. May he be shaken out like this and left with nothing. And the whole assembly said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
And there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. Because there were some who said: We and our sons and our daughters are plenty. So we take grain for them, so we can eat and live. There were some too who said: We've laid down our lands and vineyards and houses, so we can buy grain because of the famine. There were some too who said: We've borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that on our lands and vineyards. Now our flesh is the same as the flesh of our brothers, our children the same as their children. And look — we make our sons and our daughters into slaves, and some of our daughters are already brought into slavery. And it isn't in our power to redeem them, because other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. Then I thought it over in myself and told the nobles and the rulers off: You take interest, every one from his brother. And I set a great gathering against them. And I said to them: We've bought back our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, as much as we could. And will you sell your brothers now? Or will they be sold to us? Then they held their peace and found nothing to answer. And I said too: What you're doing isn't good. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God because of the insults of the nations, the ones against us? I too, and my brothers and my servants, could ask them for money and grain. Let's leave off this interest, please. Give them back their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses today, please, and the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you take from them. Then they said: We'll give them back and won't ask anything of them. That's what we'll do, the way you say. Then I called the priests and made them swear they'd do according to this promise. And I shook out the fold of my robe too and said: That's how God will shake out every man from his house and from his work, who doesn't carry out this promise. He'll be shaken out like this and emptied. And all the gathering said: Amen. And they praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 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. Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 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. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 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. 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. 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? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 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. 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. 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.
And there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.
And there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Some were saying, We have plenty of sons and daughters. We have to get grain to eat and stay alive.
Because there were some who said: We and our sons and our daughters are plenty. So we take grain for them, so we can eat and live.
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.
Others were saying, We have mortgaged our fields and our vineyards and our houses to buy grain in the famine.
There were some too who said: We've laid down our lands and vineyards and houses, so we can buy grain because of the famine.
Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
And others were saying, We have borrowed money on our fields and our vineyards to pay the king's tax.
There were some too who said: We've borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that on our lands and vineyards.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
And our flesh is the same as our brothers' flesh, and our children the same as their children. Yet here we are, forcing our sons and daughters into slavery — and some of our daughters have already been taken. And we can't do anything about it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.
Now our flesh is the same as the flesh of our brothers, our children the same as their children. And look — we make our sons and our daughters into slaves, and some of our daughters are already brought into slavery. And it isn't in our power to redeem them, because other men have our lands and vineyards.
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.
And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
So I thought it over, and then I confronted the nobles and the officials and said to them, Every one of you is charging your own brother interest. And I called a great assembly against them.
Then I thought it over in myself and told the nobles and the rulers off: You take interest, every one from his brother. And I set a great gathering against them.
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.
And I said to them, We have done what we could to buy back our fellow Jews who were sold to the nations. And now you are selling your own brothers, and they will have to be sold back to us. Then they had nothing to say, and couldn't find a word to answer.
And I said to them: We've bought back our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, as much as we could. And will you sell your brothers now? Or will they be sold to us? Then they held their peace and found nothing to answer.
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.
And I said, What you are doing isn't good. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God, to keep the nations who are our enemies from sneering at us?
And I said too: What you're doing isn't good. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God because of the insults of the nations, the ones against us?
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?
I and my brothers and my men are also lending them money and grain. Let's drop the interest.
I too, and my brothers and my servants, could ask them for money and grain. Let's leave off this interest, please.
I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
Give them back their fields and their vineyards and their olive groves and their houses today, along with the hundredth part of the money and the grain and the new wine and the oil you are charging them.
Give them back their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses today, please, and the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you take from them.
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.
Then they said, We will give it back, and we won't ask anything more of them. We will do just as you say. So I called the priests and made them swear to keep this promise.
Then they said: We'll give them back and won't ask anything of them. That's what we'll do, the way you say. Then I called the priests and made them swear they'd do according to this promise.
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.
And I shook out the fold of my robe and said, So may God shake out every man from his house and from what he has earned who doesn't keep this promise. May he be shaken out like this and left with nothing. And the whole assembly said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
And I shook out the fold of my robe too and said: That's how God will shake out every man from his house and from his work, who doesn't carry out this promise. He'll be shaken out like this and emptied. And all the gathering said: Amen. And they praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
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.
Nehemiah's own conduct
And from the day I was appointed governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes — twelve years — neither I nor my brothers ate the governor's food allowance. But the earlier governors before me had been a burden on the people, taking bread and wine from them, and forty shekels of silver as well. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I didn't do that, because I feared God. In fact I kept at the work on this wall, and we bought no land. And all my men were gathered there for the work. And there were a hundred and fifty Jews and officials at my table, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. Now what was prepared for me each day was one ox and six choice sheep, and poultry as well. And every ten days a great supply of wine of all sorts. And even so I never asked for the governor's food allowance, because the burden on this people was heavy. Remember me, my God, for good, for everything I have done for this people.
And from the time I was set up to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year right to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that's twelve years, I and my brothers haven't eaten the bread of the governor. But the governors before me laid loads on the people and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, their servants ruled over the people too. But I didn't do that, because I feared God. Yes, I kept on at the work of this wall too. And we didn't buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Besides, there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides the ones who came to us from among the nations round us. Now what was got ready for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Birds were got ready for me too, and once in ten days plenty of all kinds of wine. But for all this I didn't ask for the bread of the governor, because the slavery was heavy on this people. Think about me, my God, for good, according to everything I've done for this people.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
And from the day I was appointed governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes — twelve years — neither I nor my brothers ate the governor's food allowance.
And from the time I was set up to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year right to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that's twelve years, I and my brothers haven't eaten the bread of the governor.
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.
But the earlier governors before me had been a burden on the people, taking bread and wine from them, and forty shekels of silver as well. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I didn't do that, because I feared God.
But the governors before me laid loads on the people and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, their servants ruled over the people too. But I didn't do that, because I feared God.
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.
In fact I kept at the work on this wall, and we bought no land. And all my men were gathered there for the work.
Yes, I kept on at the work of this wall too. And we didn't buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
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.
And there were a hundred and fifty Jews and officials at my table, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.
Besides, there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides the ones who came to us from among the nations round us.
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.
Now what was prepared for me each day was one ox and six choice sheep, and poultry as well. And every ten days a great supply of wine of all sorts. And even so I never asked for the governor's food allowance, because the burden on this people was heavy.
Now what was got ready for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Birds were got ready for me too, and once in ten days plenty of all kinds of wine. But for all this I didn't ask for the bread of the governor, because the slavery was heavy on this people.
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.
Remember me, my God, for good, for everything I have done for this people.
Think about me, my God, for good, according to everything I've done for this people.
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.