Nehemiah 5

1 About [at that point in time, during] that time [period, season] there was [existed, came into being] a great [large, significant] outcry [cry of distress, loud complaint] from the people [nation, community] and their wives [women, female partners] against [toward, in opposition to] their fellow [brotherly, related] Jews [of Judah, Israelites]. word study 2 Some [certain ones, they] were saying, “We [us, ourselves] and our sons [descendants, children] and daughters [female children, women] are numerous [many, a large number]. We must get [take, receive] grain [food, wheat] in order to eat [devour, consume] and stay alive [live, survive].” word study 3 Others were saying, “We [as a community, together] are mortgaging [pledging, exchanging as security] our fields [lands, cultivated areas], our vineyards [gardens for growing vines], and our homes [houses, dwelling places] to get [take, receive] grain [food, wheat] during the famine [time of hunger, dearth].” word study 4 Still others [there were also] were saying, “We have [been forced to] borrowed [lent, taken on obligation] money [silver, payment] to pay the king’s [royal, sovereign] tax [tribute, measured portion] on our fields [lands, cultivated areas] and vineyards [gardens, plots for vines]. word study 5 We and our children are just like [having the same nature as] our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting [forcing into bondage] our sons and daughters to [a state of] slavery [servitude, bondage]. Some of our daughters are already [presently, at this time] enslaved [in a state of subjection], but we are powerless [without strength or ability] to redeem [buy back, rescue] them because our fields [lands, territories] and vineyards [gardens, cultivated lands] belong to [are possessed by] others [different ones, strangers].” word study 6 When I heard [with attention and obedience] their outcry [a loud cry of distress, shriek] and these complaints [words, matters], I became [was] extremely [very, much, exceedingly] angry [incensed, furious, like a fire burning], word study 7 and after serious thought [reflecting on the situation, consulting with myself] I rebuked [contended with, argued against] the nobles [rulers, leaders] and officials, saying, “You are exacting [charging, taking] usury [interest, lending money at unfair rates] from your own brothers [relatives, fellow Israelites]!” So I called [gathered, assembled] a large assembly [meeting, congregation] against them [in opposition to them, to address the issue] word study 8 and said, “We have done our best [according to our ability, as much as we can] to buy back [redeem, acquire] our Jewish brothers [kinsmen, fellow Israelites] who were sold [given over, enslaved] to foreigners [heathen, Gentiles], but now you are selling [giving up, enslaving] your own brothers [fellow Jews, relatives], that they may be sold back [redeemed, acquired] to us!” But they remained silent [held their peace, were still], for they could find [discover, attain] nothing [no word, no answer] to say. word study 9 So I continued, “What you are doing [is not good] is not right. Shouldn’t you walk [live, conduct yourselves] in the fear [reverence, respect] of our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] to avoid [because of, on account of] the reproach [shame, scorn] of our foreign [Gentile, non-Hebrew] enemies [adversaries, those who oppose us]? word study 10 I, as well as my brothers [close relatives, friends] and my servants [youth, attendants], have been lending [exacting, giving with expectation of return] the people money [silver, wealth] and grain [food, provisions]. Please [I pray you], let us stop [leave off, relinquish] this usury [lending with interest, burden]. word study 11 Please [I pray you] restore to them immediately their fields [lands, properties], vineyards [gardens for growing vines], olive groves [olive tree orchards], and houses [dwelling places], along with the percentage [hundredth part] of the money [silver, wealth], grain [wheat, staple food], new wine [freshly squeezed, fermented], and oil [olive oil] that you have been assessing [exacting, charging] them.” word study 12 “We will restore it [give it back, return what is owed],” they replied, “and will require [demand, seek] nothing more from them [nothing in addition, no further payment]. We will do [act, fulfill] as you say [command, instruct].” So I summoned [called, gathered] the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and required of the nobles [leaders, officials] and officials [rulers, magistrates] an oath [a sworn promise, a vow] that they would do [fulfill, carry out] what they had promised [agreed to, pledged]. word study 13 I also [even, too] shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God [Elohim, the supreme God] likewise shake out of His house [dwelling place, temple] and possession [inheritance, property] every man [individual, person] who does not keep [fulfill, obey] this promise [vow, agreement]. May such a man be shaken out [removed, expelled] and have nothing [be empty, worthless]!” The whole assembly [congregation, gathering] said, “Amen [so be it, truly],” and they praised [glorified, honored] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. And the people did [acted, obeyed] as they had promised [vowed, agreed]. word study 14 Furthermore, from the day [when I was appointed] King Artaxerxes [the Persian king] appointed me to be their governor [leader, ruler] in the land [territory, region] of Judah [the southern kingdom], from his twentieth year [a period of twenty years] until his thirty-second year [a total of twelve years] (twelve years total), neither I [as the governor] nor my brothers [my fellow leaders] ate the food [bread, provisions] allotted [assigned, designated] to the governor [leader, ruler]. word study 15 The governors [rulers, leaders] before me had heavily burdened [oppressed, weighed upon] the people, taking from them bread [food, sustenance] and wine [fermented drink] plus forty shekels [units of weight or money] of silver [a valuable metal, used for trade]. Their servants [young attendants, officials] also oppressed [dominated, ruled over] the people, but I did not do this because of my fear [reverence, respect] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 16 Instead, I devoted myself [gave my full attention, prioritized] to the construction [building, restoration] of the wall [a barrier for protection], and all [every single one, the entirety of] my servants [workers, attendants] were gathered [assembled, collected] there [in that place, at that location] for the work [labor, task, occupation]; we did not [refrained from, did not engage in] acquire [buy, purchase, obtain] any land [property, field, territory]. word study 17 There were 150 [a hundred and fifty, one hundred fifty] Jews [of Judah, from the tribe of Judah] and officials [rulers, leaders] at my table [a place of community], besides the guests [visitors, those who came to us] from the surrounding [around, nearby] nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]. word study 18 Each day [daily, every single day] one ox [a cattle, like a bull], six choice [fat, specially selected] sheep, and some fowl [birds, poultry] were prepared [made, set forth] for me, and once every ten days [at ten-day intervals] an abundance [a large supply, to multiply] of all kinds of wine [fermented wine] was provided [given, set forth]. But I did not demand [require, seek] the food [bread] allotted [assigned, given] to the governor [leader, official], because the burden [service, work] on the people [nation, Amaw] was so heavy [weighty, honored]. word study 19 Remember [to recall, think upon] me favorably [for good, with pleasure], O my God [Elohim, the supreme One], for all [everything, every aspect] that I have done [made, accomplished] for this [these] people [nation, community]. word study