Nehemías 5
Leeser Old Testament
1And there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2And there were some that said, Our sons, and our daughters, and ourselves are many; and we must buy corn, that we may eat, and live.
3And others there were that said, We must pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses, that we may buy corn, in the famine.
4And others there were that said, We have borrowed money for the kings tax on our fields and vineyards.
5Yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brethren, our children are like their children: and, lo, we must force our sons and our daughters to become servants, and some of our daughters are forced to become so, and our hand is powerless; and our fields and our vineyards belong to others.
6And it displeased me greatly when I heard their complaint and these words.
7Then did I consult with my heart, and I upbraided the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, "Ye exact usury, every one of his brother!" And I brought together a great assembly against them.
8And I said unto them, We have indeed ransomed our brethren the Jews, who had been sold unto the various nations, as far as our means went: and will ye yourselves even sell your brethren, so that they will be sold again unto us? And they remained silent, and found no answer.
9Then said I, The thing is not good which ye are doing: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the taunting of the nations, our enemies?
10And also I, my brothers, and my young men, have lent them money and corn: I pray you, let us relinquish this loan.
11Give back to them, I pray you, even this day, their fields, 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 have lent them.
12Then said they, We will give all back, and of them will we require nothing: so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and made them swear, that they would do in accordance with this promise.
13Also my lap did I shake out, and said, So may God shake out every man that performeth not this promise, from his house and of his toilgotten wealth, and so let him remain shaken out, and empty. And all the assembly said, Amen, and they praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
14Moreover from the day that the king had enjoined on me to be governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year up to the two and thirtieth year of king Artaxerxes, full twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food of the governor.
15But the former governors that had been before me had made it heavy for the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver: yea, even their young men ruled over the people; but I myself did not act so, because of the fear of God.
16And in the work of this wall also did I labor actively; and we bought not any fields; and all my young men were assembled there by the work.
17Moreover of the Jews and rulers, one hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from the nations that are about us, ate at my table.
18And that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also birds were prepared for me, and once in ten days all sorts of wine in abundance: yet with all this I required not the food of the governor; because the service lay heavily upon this people.
19Remember for me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Reina-Valera 1909
1ENTONCES fué grande el clamor del pueblo y de sus mujeres contra los Judíos sus hermanos.
2Y había quien decía: Nosotros, nuestros hijos y nuestras hijas, somos muchos: hemos por tanto tomado grano para comer y vivir.
3Y había quienes decían: Hemos empeñado nuestras tierras, y nuestras viñas, y nuestras casas, para comprar grano en el hambre.
4Y había quienes decían: Hemos tomado prestado dinero para el tributo del rey, sobre nuestras tierras y viñas.
5Ahora bien, nuestra carne es como la carne de nuestros hermanos, nuestros hijos como sus hijos: y he aquí que nosotros sujetamos nuestros hijos y nuestras hijas á servidumbre, y hay algunas de nuestras hijas sujetas: mas no hay facultad en nuestras manos para rescatarlas, porque nuestras tierras y nuestras viñas son de otros.
6Y enojéme en gran manera cuando oí su clamor y estas palabras.
7Meditélo entonces para conmigo, y reprendí á los principales y á los magistrados, y díjeles: ¿Tomáis cada uno usura de vuestros hermanos? Y convoqué contra ellos una grande junta.
8Y díjeles: Nosotros rescatamos á nuestros hermanos Judíos que habían sido vendidos á las gentes, conforme á la facultad que había en nosotros: ¿y vosotros aun vendéis á vuestros hermanos, y serán vendidos á nosotros? Y callaron, que no tuvieron qué responder.
9Y dije: No es bien lo que hacéis, ¿no andaréis en temor de nuestro Dios, por no ser el oprobio de las gentes enemigas nuestras?
10También yo, y mis hermanos, y mis criados, les hemos prestado dinero y grano: relevémosles ahora de este gravamen.
11Ruégoos que les devolváis hoy sus tierras, sus viñas, sus olivares, y sus casas, y la centésima parte del dinero y grano, del vino y del aceite que demandáis de ellos.
12Y dijeron: Devolveremos, y nada les demandaremos; haremos así como tú dices. Entonces convoqué los sacerdotes, y juramentélos que harían conforme á esto.
13Además sacudí mi vestido, y dije: Así sacuda Dios de su casa y de su trabajo á todo hombre que no cumpliere esto, y así sea sacudido y vacío. Y respondió toda la congregación: ¡Amén! Y alabaron á Jehová. Y el pueblo hizo conforme á esto.
14También desde el día que me mandó el rey que fuese gobernador de ellos en la tierra de Judá, desde el año veinte del rey Artajerjes hasta el año treinta y dos, doce años, ni yo ni mis hermanos comimos el pan del gobernador.
15Mas los primeros gobernadores que fueron antes de mí, cargaron al pueblo, y tomaron de ellos por el pan y por el vino sobre cuarenta siclos de plata: á más de esto, sus criados se enseñoreaban sobre el pueblo; pero yo no hice así, á causa del temor de Dios.
16También en la obra de este muro instauré mi parte, y no compramos heredad: y todos mis criados juntos estaban allí á la obra.
17Además ciento y cincuenta hombres de los Judíos y magistrados, y los que venían á nosotros de las gentes que están en nuestros contornos, estaban á mi mesa.
18Y lo que se aderezaba para cada día era un buey, seis ovejas escogidas, y aves también se aparejaban para mí, y cada diez días vino en toda abundancia: y con todo esto nunca requerí el pan del gobernador, porque la servidumbre de este pueblo era grave.
19Acuérdate de mí para bien, Dios mío, y de todo lo que hice á este pueblo.
King James Version
1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2For 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.
3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5Yet 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.
6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7Then 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.
8And 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.
9Also 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?
10I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11Restore, 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.
12Then 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.
13Also 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.
14Moreover 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.
15But 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.
16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17Moreover 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.
18Now 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.
19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
World English Bible
1Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
2For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
3There were also some who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”
4There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
8I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.
9Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?
10I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
11Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.”
12Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
13Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. The people did according to this promise.
14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.
16Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work.
17Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, in addition to those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.
18Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn’t demand the governor’s pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
19Remember me, my God, for all the good that I have done for this people.