Nehemiah 5

Social Injustice

5There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. ²Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” ³Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” ^y4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax ^zon our fields and vineyards. ^a5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. ^bSome of our daughters are already enslaved, ^cbut we are powerless ^dbecause our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

⁶I became extremely angry ^ewhen I heard their outcry and these complaints. ⁷After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” ^fSo I called a large assembly against them ⁸and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” ^gThey remained silent and could not say a word. ^h9Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God ⁱand not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? ^j10Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. ^k11Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage ^lof the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil ^mthat you have been assessing them.”

¹²They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. ⁿWe will do as you say.”

So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath ^oto do this. ¹³I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out ^pand have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised. ^q

Good and Bad Governors

¹⁴Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes ^rappointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years ^s—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. ¹⁵The governors ^twho preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound ^uof silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God. ^v16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, ^wand all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land. ^x

¹⁷There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table. ^y18Each ^zday, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every 10 days. ^aBut I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

¹⁹Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people. ^b