Nehemiah 5

1Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.Cross-references: Ex 3:7 · Ex 22:25 · Lev 25:35 · Deut 15:7 · Job 31:38 · Job 34:28 · +5 more

2For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”Cross-references: Gen 41:57 · Gen 42:2 · Gen 43:8 · Ps 127:3 · Ps 128:2 · Mal 2:2

3There were also some who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”Cross-references: Gen 47:15 · Lev 25:35 · Deut 15:7 · Mal 3:8

4There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.Cross-references: Deut 28:47 · Josh 16:10 · 1Ki 9:21 · Ezra 4:13 · Ezra 4:20 · Ezra 7:24 · +1 more

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.”Cross-references: Gen 29:14 · Gen 37:27 · Ex 21:1 · Lev 25:39 · 2Ki 4:1 · Isa 58:7 · +2 more

6I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.Cross-references: Ex 11:8 · Num 16:15 · Neh 13:8 · Neh 13:25 · Mark 3:5 · Eph 4:26

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.Cross-references: Ex 22:25 · Lev 19:15 · Lev 25:36 · Deut 15:2 · Deut 23:19 · Deut 24:10 · +15 more

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.Cross-references: Ex 21:16 · Lev 25:47 · Deut 24:7 · Job 29:10 · Job 32:15 · Matt 22:12 · +7 more

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?Cross-references: Gen 13:7 · Gen 20:11 · Gen 42:18 · Lev 25:36 · 1Sam 2:24 · 2Sam 12:14 · +13 more

10I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.Cross-references: Ex 22:25 · Neh 5:7 · Ps 15:5 · Ezek 18:8 · Ezek 18:13 · Mic 2:1 · +6 more

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.”Cross-references: Lev 6:4 · 1Sam 12:3 · 2Sam 12:6 · Neh 5:3 · Isa 58:6 · Luke 3:8

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.Cross-references: 2Ki 23:2 · 2Chr 6:22 · 2Chr 15:13 · 2Chr 28:14 · Ezra 10:5 · Ezra 10:12 · +7 more

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 Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.Cross-references: Num 5:22 · Deut 27:14 · 1Sam 15:28 · 1Ki 11:29 · 2Ki 23:3 · 1Chr 16:36 · +9 more

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.Cross-references: Ezra 4:13 · Neh 2:1 · Neh 13:6 · Rom 13:6 · 1Cor 9:4 · 1Cor 9:18 · +1 more

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 2:15 · 1Sam 8:15 · Neh 5:9 · Job 31:23 · Ps 112:1 · Ps 147:11 · +8 more

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.Cross-references: Num 16:15 · Luke 8:15 · Acts 20:33 · Rom 2:7 · 1Cor 15:58 · 2Cor 12:16 · +3 more

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.Cross-references: 2Sam 9:7 · 2Sam 9:13 · 1Ki 18:19 · Isa 32:8 · Rom 12:13 · 1Pet 4:9

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.Cross-references: 1Ki 4:22 · Neh 5:14 · Ps 37:21 · Ps 37:26

19Remember me, my God, for all the good that I have done for this people.Cross-references: Gen 40:14 · Neh 13:14 · Neh 13:22 · Neh 13:31 · Ps 18:23 · Ps 25:6 · +6 more