New King James Version

King James Bible

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression

And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren.

1

Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed

And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2

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

2

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.

3

There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.”

3

Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4

There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards.

4

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5

Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”

5

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.

6

And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

6

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

7

After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is [a]exacting usury from his brother.” So I [b]called a great assembly against them.

7

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.

8

And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?”
Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.

8

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.

9

Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

9

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?

10

I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this [c]usury!

10

I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11

Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”

11

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.

12

So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.”
Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

12

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.

13

Then I shook out [d]the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.”
And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise.

13

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.

14

The Generosity of Nehemiah

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions.

14

Nehemiah's Generosity

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.

15

But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

15

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.

16

Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and [e]we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.

16

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.

17

And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.

17

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.

18

Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.

18

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.

19

Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

19

Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Parallel

New King James Version

King James Bible

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5