Liber Nehemiae, 5

1. Et factus est clamor populi et uxorum eius magnus adversus fratres suos Iudaeos.

1. Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren.

2. Et erant qui dicerent: “Filios nostros et filias nostras pignoravimus, ut acciperemus frumentum et comederemus et viveremus!”.

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. Et erant qui dicerent: “Agros nostros et vineas et domos nostras opposuimus, ut acciperemus frumentum in fame!”.

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. Et alii dicebant: “Mutuo sumpsimus pecunias in tributa regis pro agris nostris et vineis nostris.

4. And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax upon our fields and our vineyards.

5. Et nunc sicut caro fratrum nostrorum sic caro nostra est, et sicut filii eorum ita et filii nostri; ecce nos subiugamus filios nostros et filias nostras in servitutem, et de filiabus nostris quaedam iam in servitute subiugatae sunt, nec habemus unde possint redimi, quia agros nostros et vineas nostras alii possident”.

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. Et iratus sum nimis, cum audissem clamorem eorum secundum verba haec.

6. I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

7. Cogitavique in corde meo et increpavi optimates et magistratus et dixi eis: “Usuras singuli a fratribus vestris exigitis!”. Et congregavi adversum eos contionem magnam

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. et dixi eis: “Nos, ut scitis, redemimus fratres nostros Iudaeos, qui venditi fuerant gentibus, secundum possibilitatem nostram; quin potius et vos vendetis fratres vestros, ut vendentur nobis?”. Et siluerunt nec invenerunt quid responderent.

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. Dixique ad eos: “Non est bona res, quam facitis. Quare non in timore Dei nostri ambulatis, ne exprobretur nobis a gentibus inimicis nostris?

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. Et ego et fratres mei et pueri mei commodavimus plurimis pecuniam et frumentum; non repetamus usuras istas.

10. Moreover I and my brethren and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us leave off this interest.

11. Reddite eis hodie agros suos et vineas suas et oliveta sua et domos suas et centesimam pecuniae frumenti vini et olei, quam exigere soletis ab eis”.

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. Et dixerunt: “Reddemus et ab eis nihil quaeremus; sicque faciemus, ut loqueris”. Et vocavi sacerdotes et feci eos iurare, ut facerent, sicut dictum erat.

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. Insuper excussi sinum meum et dixi: “Sic excutiat Deus omnem virum, qui non compleverit verbum istud, de domo sua et de laboribus suis; sic excutiatur et vacuus fiat!”. Et dixit universa multitudo: “Amen!”. Et laudaverunt Deum. Fecit ergo populus, sicut erat dictum.

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. A die autem illa, qua praeceperat rex mihi, ut essem dux in terra Iudae, ab anno vicesimo usque ad annum tricesimum secundum Artaxerxis regis, per annos duodecim ego et fratres mei annonas, quae ducibus debebantur, non comedimus.

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. Duces autem priores, qui fuerant ante me, gravaverunt populum et acceperunt ab eis cotidie pro pane siclos argenti quadraginta; sed et ministri eorum depresserunt populum. Ego autem non feci ita propter timorem Dei,

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. quin potius in opere muri restauravi et agrum non emi; et omnes pueri mei congregati ad opus erant.

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. Iudaei quoque et magistratus, centum quinquaginta viri, et qui veniebant ad nos de gentibus, quae in circuitu nostro sunt, in mensa mea erant.

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. Parabatur autem mihi per dies singulos bos unus, arietes sex electi, exceptis volatilibus; et inter dies decem vina diversa multa. Insuper et annonas ducatus mei non quaesivi; gravis enim erat servitus populi huius.

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. Memento mei, Deus meus, in bonum, secundum omnia, quae feci populo huic.

19. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.