Neh 5:2-7 | NASB1995 | STEP | 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 .”

Nehemiah 5:2-7

2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us ^aget grain that we may eat and live.” 3 There were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine.” 4 Also there were those who said, “We have borrowed money ^bfor the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 “Now ^cour flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, ^dwe are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and ^{▼▼ Lit there is not the power in our hands}we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6 Then I was very ^fangry when I had heard their outcry and these words. 7 I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, ^g“You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.