Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed

1And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their brothers the Jews.

2And there were those who said, “Our sons and our daughters, we are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”

3And there were those who said, “Our lands and vineyards and houses we have mortgaged, that we might buy grain during the famine.”

4And there were those who said, “We have borrowed silver for the tribute of the king on our fields and our vineyards. 5And now as the flesh of our brothers is our flesh; as their sons are our sons. And behold, we are putting into bondage our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage, and in our hands is no power, and our fields and our vineyards are unto others.”

6And I became very hot when I heard their outcry and these words. 7And my heart reigned over me, and I rebuked the nobles and the prefects and said to them, “You⁺ are exacting usury on one another.”

And I called a great assembly against them, 8and I said to them, “We have redeemed our brothers the Jews, who were sold to the nations, according to our ability. And you⁺ indeed are selling your⁺ brothers, that they may be sold back to us!”

And they were silenced, and they found not a word.

9And I said, “The thing that you⁺ are doing is not good. Is it not in the fear of our God that you⁺ should walk, because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10And also I, my brothers, and my servants, have been lending to them silver and grain. Please let us stop this usury. 11Restore now to them even this day their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and the hundredth of the silver, and the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you⁺ have charged to them.”

12And they said, “We will restore it, and from them will require nothing. Thus we will do as you say.”

And I called the priests, and caused them to swear to do according to this word. 13Then I shook out my lap and said, “So may God shake out every man who does not perform this word from his house and from his property; even thus is he shaken out and emptied.”

And all the assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised YHWH, and the people did according to this word.

Nehemiah’s Generosity

14Also from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the King (twelve years), I and my brothers did not eat the bread of the governor.

15And the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and they took from them bread and wine, besides silver, forty shekels.† Also their servants ruled over the people, and I did not do so because of the fear of God. 16And also I held fast in the work of this wall, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there for the work.

17And the Jews and prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in to us from the nations that were around us, were at my table. 18And that which was prepared for one day was one ox, and six choice sheep, and fowl prepared for me, and once every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. And with this, the bread of the governor I did not demand, because the bondage was heavy on this people.

19Remember me, O my God, for good, for all that I have done for this people.