KJV + Strong's Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed 1And there was a greatcryof the peopleand of their wivesagainst their brethrenthe Jews.2For there werethat said,We, our sons,and our daughters,[are] many:therefore we take upcorn[for them], that we may eat,and live.3[Some] also there werethat said,We have mortgagedour lands,vineyards,and houses,that we might buycorn,because of the dearth.4There werealso that said,We have borrowedmoneyfor the king'stribute,[and that upon] our landsand vineyards.5Yet now our flesh[is] as the fleshof our brethren,our childrenas their children:and, lo, we bring into bondageour sonsand our daughtersto be servants,and [some] of our daughtersarebrought unto bondage[already]: neither [is it] in our power[to redeem them]; for other menhave our landsand vineyards. 6And I was veryangrywhen I heardtheir cryand these words.7Then I consultedwith myself,and I rebukedthe nobles,and the rulers,and saidunto them, Ye exact{08678;05383:08802} {08675;05375:08802} usury,every oneof his brother.And I seta greatassemblyagainst them.8And I saidunto them, We after our abilityhave redeemedour brethrenthe Jews,which were soldunto the heathen;and will ye even sellyour brethren?or shall they be soldunto us? Then held they their peace,and foundnothing[to answer].9Also I said,It [is] not goodthatye do:ought ye not to walkin the fearof our Godbecause of the reproachof the heathenour enemies?10I likewise, [and] my brethren,and my servants,might exactof them moneyand corn:I pray you, let us leave offthis 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 exactof them.12Then saidthey, We will restore[them], and will requirenothing of them; so will we doas thou sayest.Then I calledthe priests,and took an oathof them, that they should doaccording to this promise.13Also I shookmy lap,and said,So Godshake outevery manfrom his house,and from his labour,that performethnot this promise,even thus be he shaken out,and emptied.And all the congregationsaid,Amen,and praisedthe LORD.And the peopledidaccording to this promise. Nehemiah's Generosity 14Moreover from the timethat I was appointedto be their governorin the landof Judah,from the twentiethyeareven unto the twoand thirtiethyearof Artaxerxesthe king,[that is], twelveyears,I and my brethrenhave not eatenthe breadof the governor.15But the formergovernorsthat [had been] beforeme were chargeableunto the people,and had takenof them breadand wine,besidefortyshekelsof silver;yea, eventheir servantsbare ruleover the people:but so didnot I, becauseof the fearof God.16Yea, also I continuedin the workof this wall,neither boughtwe any land:and all my servants[were] gatheredthither unto the work.17Moreover [there were] at my tablean hundredand fiftyof the Jewsand rulers,beside those that cameunto us from among the heathenthat [are] about us.18Now [that] which was prepared[for me] daily[was] oneox[and] sixchoicesheep;also fowlswere preparedfor me, and once in tendaysstoreof all sorts of wine:yet for allthis requirednot I the breadof the governor,because the bondagewas heavyupon this people.19Thinkupon me, my God,for good,[according] to all that I have donefor this people. |
    |