1 Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren.
2 For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many; let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive."
3 There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine."
4 And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax upon our fields and our vineyards.
5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children are as their children; yet we 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."
6 I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7 I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them,
8 and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brethren who have been sold to the nations; but you even sell your brethren that they may be sold to us!" They were silent, and could not find a word to say.
9 So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
10 Moreover I and my brethren and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us leave off this interest.
11 Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the hundredth of money, grain, wine, and oil which you have been exacting of them."
12 Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests, and took an oath of them to do as they had promised.
13 I also shook out my lap and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx'es the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brethren ate the food allowance of the governor.
15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens upon the people, and took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
16 I also held to the work on this wall, and acquired no land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
17 Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations which were about us.
18 Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; fowls likewise were prepared for me, and every ten days skins of wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the servitude was heavy upon this people.
19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
Versículos relacionados com Nehemiah, 5:
Nehemiah 5 deals with the rich oppression of the poor in Jerusalem, and the leadership of Nehemiah to confront this unfair situation. The following verses were chosen for addressing topics related to the chapter:
Proverbs 22:16: "He who oppresses the poor to enrich himself, or gives the rich man will surely impoverish." This verse highlights the injustice of the oppression of the poor by the rich, and how this practice can lead to an unsustainable situation.
Isaiah 58:6: "This is not the fast I chose, that it loose the ligasures of wickedness, who undoes the juggans, and that they leave the oppressed, and shatter all the yoke?" This verse emphasizes the importance of getting rid of the yokes of oppression, and how this is an essential part of true fasting.
Jeremiah 22:3: "Thus saith the Lord, Practice the right and justice, deliver the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor, and not the oppress to the foreigner, or to the orphan, or the widow; nor spill innocent blood in this place." This verse emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to practice justice and protect the oppressed rather than contribute to their oppression.
Proverbs 29:7: "The righteous knows the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge." This verse shows the difference between a fair leader, such as Nehemiah, who comprises the struggles of the poor, and an unfair leader, who is not concerned with the suffering of the underprivileged.
Isaiah 1:17: "Learn to do well; seek what is just; help the oppressed; do justice to the orphan; deal with the cause of the widows." This verse highlights the importance of doing good, seeking justice and helping the oppressed, what Nehemiah sought to do in leading the people in the reconstruction of Jerusalem.
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