Nehemiah 5:1-13
Nehemiah Stops Oppression of the Poor
1Now there arose aa great outcry of the people and of their wives bagainst their Jewish brothers. 2For 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.” 3There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” 4And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for cthe king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5Now dour flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet ewe 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.”6I was very angry when I heard ftheir outcry and these words. 7I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, g“You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them 8and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, hhave 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. 9So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk iin the fear of our God jto prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? 10Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. 11Return 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.” 12Then they said, “We will restore these and krequire nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and lmade them swear mto do as they had promised. 13 nI also shook out the fold ▼
▼Hebrew bosom
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.” pAnd all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised. Job 5:15-16
15But he qsaves the needy from the sword of their mouthand from the hand of the mighty.
16So the poor have hope,
and rinjustice shuts her mouth.
Psalms 140:12
12 I know that the Lord will smaintain the cause of the afflicted,and twill execute justice for the needy.
Copyright information for
ESV