16_NEH_05_01 And there was A great cry of the people And of their wives against their brethren the Jews .
16_NEH_05_02 for there were that said , we , our sons , And our daughters , [ are ] Many : therefore we take up corn [ for them ] , that we may eat , And live .
16_NEH_05_03 [ some ] also there were that said , we have mortgaged our lands , vineyards , And houses , that we might buy corn , because of the dearth .
16_NEH_05_04 there were also that said , we have borrowed money for the king's tribute , [ And that upon ] our lands And vineyards .
16_NEH_05_05 yet now our flesh [ Is ] as the flesh of our brethren , our children as their children : And , Lo , we bring into bondage our sons And our daughters to be servants , And [ some ] of our daughters are brought unto bondage [ already ] : neither [ Is it ] in our power [ to redeem them ] ; for other men have our lands And vineyards .
16_NEH_05_06 And I was very angry when I heard their cry And These words .
16_NEH_05_07 Then I consulted with myself , And I rebuked the nobles , And the rulers , And said unto them , ye exact usury , every one of his brother . And I set A great assembly against them .
16_NEH_05_08 And I said unto them , we after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews , which were sold unto the heathen ; And will ye even sell your brethren ? or shall they be sold unto us ? Then held they their peace , And found nothing [ to answer ] .
16_NEH_05_09 also I said , it [ Is ] not good that ye do : ought ye not to walk in the Fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies ?
16_NEH_05_10 I Likewise , [ And ] my brethren , And my servants , might exact of them money And corn : I pray you , let us leave off this usury .
16_NEH_05_11 Restore , I pray you , to them , even this day , their lands , their vineyards , their oliveyards , And their houses , also the hundredth [ part ] of the money , And of the corn , the wine , And the oil , that ye exact of them .
16_NEH_05_12 Then said they , we will Restore [ them ] , And will require nothing of them ; So will we do as thou sayest . Then I called the priests , And took an oath of them , that they should do according to this promise .
16_NEH_05_13 also I shook my lap , And said , So God shake out every man from his house , And from his labour , that performeth not this promise , even thus be he shaken out , And emptied . And all the congregation said , Amen , And praised the LORD . And the people did according to this promise .
16_NEH_05_14 moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah , from the twentieth year even unto the two And thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king , [ that Is ] , twelve years , I And my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor .
16_NEH_05_15 but the former governors that [ had been ] before me were chargeable unto the people , And had taken of them bread And wine , beside forty shekels of silver ; yea , even their servants bare rule over the people : but So did not I , because of the Fear of God .
16_NEH_05_16 yea , also I continued in the work of this wall , neither bought we any land : And all my servants [ were ] gathered thither unto the work .
16_NEH_05_17 moreover [ there were ] at my table an hundred And fifty of the Jews And rulers , beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that [ are ] about us .
16_NEH_05_18 now [ that ] which was prepared [ for me ] daily [ was ] one ox [ And ] six choice sheep ; also fowls were prepared for me , And once in ten days store of all sorts of wine : yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor , because the bondage was heavy upon this people .
16_NEH_05_19 think upon me , my God , for good , [ according ] to all that I have done for this people .