Neh 5:2-7 | NASB2020 | STEP | For there were those who said , “We, our sons , and our daughters are many ; therefore let’s get grain so 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’s ^aget grain so that we may eat and live.” 3 And there were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so that we might get grain because of the famine.” 4 There also were those who said, “We have borrowed money ^bfor the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 And 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 no power in our hands}we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6 Then I was very ^fangry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7 So I thought it over and contended with the nobles and the leading people, and said to them, “ ^gYou are lending at interest, each to his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.