Nehemiah Stops Oppression of the Poor
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For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive."
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There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine."
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And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for 3the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.
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Now 4our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet 5we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards."
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I was very angry when I heard 6their outcry and these words.
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I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, 7"You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them
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and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, 8have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word to say.
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So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk 9in the fear of our God 10to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
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Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.
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Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them."
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Then they said, "We will restore these and 11require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests and 12made them swear 13to do as they had promised.
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14I also shook out the folda of my garment and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied."15And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
Nehemiah's Generosity
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Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from 16the twentieth year to 17the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, 18neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.
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The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily rationb forty shekelsc of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, 19because of the fear of God.
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I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
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Moreover, there were 20at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.
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21Now what was prepared at my expensed for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this 22I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.
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23Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)