Nehemiah Chapter 5
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
2
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
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And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.
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Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set
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there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
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And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
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And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
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And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
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They that builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
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and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
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And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another:
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in what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God will fight for us.
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So we wrought in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
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Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.
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So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one
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went with his weapon
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to the water.
18
Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
19
For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2
And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.
3
And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.
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And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;
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yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]; neither is it in the power of our hand [to redeem them], for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
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And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
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And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them.
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And I said to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? And they were silent and found no answer.
9
And I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of ourGod, so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies?
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I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
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Restore, I pray you, to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive-gardens, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that ye have exacted of them.
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And they said, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so will we do, as thou hast said. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13
Also I shook my lap, and said, SoGod shake out every man from his house and from his earnings, that performeth not this promise: even thus be he shaken out and emptied! And all the congregation said, Amen! And they praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.
14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
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But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear ofGod.
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Yea, also I applied myself to this work of the wall, and we bought no fields; and all my servants were gathered thither for the work.
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And there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers, besides those that came to us from among the nations that were about us.
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And that which was prepared daily was one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days all sorts of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor; for the service was heavy upon this people.
19
Remember for me, myGod, for good, all that I have done for this people.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And the cry of the people and their wives [was] great against their brethren the Jews.
2
And some said, We [are] numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live.
3
And some said, [As to] our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge [them], and we will take corn, and eat.
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And some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes:—our fields, and our vineyards, and houses [are pledged].
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And now our flesh [is] as the flesh of our brethren, our children [are] as their children: yet, behold, we are reducing our sons and our daughters to slavery, and some of our daughters are enslaved: and there is no power of our hands, for our fields and our vineyards [belong] to the nobles.
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And I was much grieved as I heard their cry and these words.
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And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended against the nobles, and the princes, and I said to them, Should every man demand of his brother what ye demand? And I appointed against them a great assembly,
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and I said to them, We of our free-will have redeemed our brethren the Jews that were sold to the Gentiles; and do ye sell your brethren? and shall they be delivered to us? And they were silent, and found no answer.
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And I said, The thing which ye do [is] not good; ye will not so walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Gentiles our enemies.
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Both my brethren, and my acquaintances, and I, have lent them money and corn: let us now leave off this exaction.
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Restore to them, I pray, as at this day, their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive-yards, and their houses, and bring forth to them corn and wine and oil of the money.
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And they said, We will restore, and we will not exact of them; we will do thus as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and bound them by oath to do according to this word.
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And I shook out my garment, and said, So may God shake out every man who shall not keep to this word, from his house, and from his labours, he shall be even thus shaken out, as an outcast and empty. And all the congregation said, Amen, and they praised the Lord: and the people did this thing.
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From the day that he charged me to be their ruler in the land of Juda, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Arthasastha, twelve years, I and my brethren ate not [provision] extorted from them.
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But as for the former acts of extortion wherein [those who were] before me oppressed them, they even took of them their last money, forty didrachms for bread and wine; and the [very] outcasts of them exercised authority over the people: but I did not so, because of the fear of God.
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Also in the work of the wall I treated them not with rigor, I bought not land: and all that were gathered together [came] thither to the work.
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And the Jews, to [the number of] a hundred and fifty men, besides those coming to us from the nations round about, [were] at my table.
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And there came [to me] for one day one calf, and I had six choice sheep and a goat; and every ten days wine in abundance of all sorts: yet with these I required not the bread of extortion, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
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Remember me, O God, for good, [in] all that I have done to this people.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Et factus est clamor populi, et uxorum eius magnus adversus fratres suos Iudæos.
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Et erant qui dicerent: Filii nostri, et filiæ nostræ multæ sunt nimis: accipiamus pro pretio eorum frumentum, et comedamus, et vivamus.
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Et erant qui dicerent: Agros nostros, et vineas, et domus nostras opponamus, et accipiamus frumentum in fame.
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Et alii dicebant: Mutuo sumamus pecunias in tributa regis, demusque agros nostros et vineas:
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et nunc sicut carnes fratrum nostrorum, sic carnes nostræ sunt: et sicut filii eorum, ita et filii nostri. ecce nos subiugamus filios nostros, et filias nostras in servitutem, et de filiabus nostris sunt famulæ, nec habemus unde possint redimi, et agros nostros et vineas nostras alii possident.
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Et iratus sum nimis cum audissem clamorem eorum secundum verba hæc:
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cogitavique cor meum mecum: et increpavi optimates et magistratus, et dixi eis: Usurasne singuli a fratribus vestris exigitis? Et congregavi adversum eos concionem magnam,
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et dixi eis: Nos, ut scitis, redemimus fratres nostros Iudæos, qui venditi fuerant gentibus secundum possibilitatem nostram: et vos igitur vendetis fratres vestros, et redimemus eos? Et siluerunt, nec invenerunt quid responderent.
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Dixique ad eos: Non est bona res, quam facitis: quare non in timore Dei nostri ambulastis, ne exprobretur nobis a gentibus inimicis nostris?
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Et ego, et fratres mei, et pueri mei commodavimus plurimis pecuniam et frumentum: non repetamus in commune istud, æs alienum concedamus, quod debetur nobis.
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Reddite eis hodie agros suos, et vineas suas, et oliveta sua, et domos suas: quin potius et centesimum pecuniæ, frumenti, vini et olei, quam exigere soletis ab eis, date pro illis.
12
Et dixerunt: Reddemus, et ab eis nihil quæremus: sicque faciemus ut loqueris. Et vocavi Sacerdotes, et adiuravi eos, ut facerent iuxta quod dixeram.
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.
14
A die autem illa, qua præceperat rex mihi ut essem dux in terra Iuda, ab anno vigesimo usque ad annum trigesimum secundum Artaxerxis regis per annos duodecim, ego et fratres mei annonas, quæ ducibus debebantur, non comedimus.
15
Duces autem primi, qui fuerant ante me, gravaverunt populum, et acceperunt ab eis in pane, et vino, et pecunia quotidie siclos quadraginta: sed et ministri eorum depresserunt populum. Ego autem non feci ita propter timorem Dei:
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quin potius in opere muri ædificavi, et agrum non emi, et omnes pueri mei congregati ad opus erant.
17
Iudæi quoque et magistratus centum quinquaginta viri, et qui veniebant ad nos de gentibus, quæ in circuitu nostro sunt, in mensa mea erant.
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Parabatur autem mihi per dies singulos bos unus, arietes sex electi, exceptis volatilibus, et inter dies decem vina diversa, et alia multa tribuebam: insuper et annonas ducatus mei non quæsivi: valde enim attenuatus erat populus.
19
Memento mei Deus meus in bonum secundum omnia, quæ feci populo huic.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
2
For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
3
There were also some who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”
4
There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
5
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6
I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.
8
I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.
9
Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?
10
I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
11
Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.”
12
Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
13
Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. The people did according to this promise.
14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15
But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.
16
Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work.
17
Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, in addition to those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.
18
Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn’t demand the governor’s pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
19
Remember me, my God, for all the good that I have done for this people.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews,
2
yea, there are who are saying, `Our sons, and our daughters, we--are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'
3
And there are who are saying, `Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'
4
And there are who are saying, `We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, <FI>on<Fi> our fields, and our vineyards;
5
and now, as the flesh of our brethren <FI>is<Fi> our flesh, as their sons <FI>are<Fi> our sons, and lo, we are subduing our sons and our daughters for servants, and there are of our daughters subdued, and our hand hath no might, and our fields and our vineyards <FI>are<Fi> to others.'
6
And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,
7
and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, `Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly,
8
and say to them, `We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that <FI>is<Fi> in us, and ye also sell your brethren, and they have been sold to us!' and they are silent, and have not found a word.
9
And I say, `Not good <FI>is<Fi> the thing that ye are doing; in the fear of our God do ye not walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
10
And also, I, my brethren, and my servants, are exacting of them silver and corn; let us leave off, I pray you, this usury.
11
Give back, I pray you, to them, as to-day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, and the hundredth <FI>part<Fi> of the money, and of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil, that ye are exacting of them.'
12
And they say, `We give back, and of them we seek nothing; so we do as thou art saying.' And I call the priests, and cause them to swear to do according to this thing;
13
also, my lap I have shaken, and I say, `Thus doth God shake out every man, who doth not perform this thing, from his house, and from his labour; yea, thus is he shaken out and empty;' and all the assembly say, `Amen,' and praise Jehovah; and the people do according to this thing.
14
Also, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes the king--twelve years--I, and my brethren, the bread of the governor have not eaten:
15
the former governors who <FI>are<Fi> before me have made themselves heavy on the people, and take of them in bread and wine, besides in silver forty shekels; also, their servants have ruled over the people--and I have not done so, because of the fear of God.
16
And also, in the work of this wall I have done mightily, even a field we have not bought, and all my servants are gathered there for the work;
17
and of the Jews, and of the prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in unto us of the nations that <FI>are<Fi> round about us, <FI>are<Fi> at my table;
18
and that which hath been prepared for one day <FI>is<Fi> one ox, six fat sheep, also fowls have been prepared for me, and once in ten days of all wines abundantly, and with this, the bread of the governor I have not sought, for heavy is the service on this people.
19
Remember for me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).