Nehemiah 5

The people cried out against the wealthy nobles who were charging interest and seizing their lands and children during the famine. Nehemiah rebuked the nobles, made them return what they had taken, and set an example by refusing the governor’s food allowance for twelve years.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.	Now there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.
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.	Some were saying, "We, our sons and daughters, are many. We must get grain so that we can eat and stay alive."
3	Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.	Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and houses to get grain because of the famine."
4	There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.	Still others said, "We have had to borrow money for the king's tax on our fields 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.	"Now our flesh is the same as our brothers' flesh; our children are the same as theirs. Yet we are forcing our sons and daughters into slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved. We are powerless to help, for our fields and vineyards now belong to others."
6	And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.	When I heard their outcry and these words, I was very angry.
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.	After thinking it over, I confronted the nobles and officials and said to them, "You are charging interest on loans to your own brothers!" So I called a great assembly to deal with them.
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.	I said to them, "We, as best we could, have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the nations. But now you are selling your own brothers. They must be bought back by us?" They were silent and could find nothing to say.
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?	So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, so that the reproach of our enemies will not fall on us?"
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.	"I myself, my brothers, and my servants are also lending money and grain to the people. But let us stop this practice of charging interest.
11	Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.	Please give back to them this very day their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, and also the interest you are charging them — a hundredth of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil."
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.	They replied, "We will restore it and will require nothing more from them. We will do exactly as you say." So I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear an oath to do what they had promised.
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.	I also shook out my garment and said, "In this way may God shake out every man from his house and from his property who does not keep this promise. May He be shaken out and emptied!" And all the assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. The people did as they had promised.
14	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.	Furthermore, from the day I was appointed as their governor in the land of Judah — from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years — neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.
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.	The earlier governors who preceded me had placed heavy burdens on the people, taking forty shekels of silver from them for food and wine. Their subordinates also lorded it over the people. But I did not act this way, out of the fear of God.
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.	I also devoted myself to the work on this wall and acquired no land. All my servants were gathered there for the work.
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.	Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the surrounding nations.
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.	Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and birds were prepared for me. Every ten days skins of wine of all kinds were provided. Yet I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on these people was already heavy.
19	Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.	Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.