Nehemiah 5 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression

5 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.

The Generosity of Nehemiah

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.

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Nehemiah 5 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

5 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...
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Nehemiah 5 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

5 And great cry of the people and of their wives was made against their brethren Jews. (And later there came a time when a great cry of the people, both men and women, was made against their fellow Jews.) 2 And there were (those) that said, Our sons and our daughters be full many; take we wheat for ...
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Nehemiah 5 - World English Bible (WEB)

5 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, an...
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Nehemiah 5 - The Voice (VOICE)

5 As time went on a different kind of conflict arose—common men and their wives cried out against some of their fellow Jews. Jews Without Land: 2 Our families are large, and we need food so that along with our children, we will not starve. Let us have grain! Jewish Landowners: 3 As a result of the f...
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Nehemiah 5 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Considering the Poor5 Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives to their fellow Jews. 2 There were those who said, “We and our sons and our daughters are numerous. We must take grain, so we may eat and live.” 3 There were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our viney...
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Nehemiah 5 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression5 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 ar...
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Nehemiah 5 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression5 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 ar...
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Nehemiah 5 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression5 Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin. 2 For there were those who said, ‘With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive.’ 3 There were also those who said, ‘We are h...
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Nehemiah 5 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression5 Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin.(A)2 For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive.” 3 There were also those who said, “We are h...
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Nehemiah 5 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed5 About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. 2 They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.” 3 Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during th...
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Nehemiah 5 - New Life Version (NLV)

Help for Poor People5 Now the people and their wives began to cry in a loud voice against their Jewish brothers. 2 For some said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” 3 And some said, “We are giving up our fields, our grape-vines and our houses, th...
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Nehemiah 5 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression5 And there was a great (A)outcry of the people and their wives against their (B)Jewish brethren. 2 For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” 3 There were also some who said, “We hav...
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Nehemiah 5 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Nehemiah helps the poor5 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, ‘We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.’ 3 Others were saying, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and ou...
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Nehemiah 5 - New International Version (NIV)

Nehemiah Helps the Poor5 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields,(A) our vineyards and ...
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Nehemiah 5 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Nehemiah Helps Some Poor People5 Some men and their wives cried out against their Jewish brothers and sisters. 2 Some of them were saying, “There are now many of us. We have many sons and daughters. We have to get some grain so we can eat and stay alive.” 3 Others were saying, “We’re being forced t...
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Nehemiah 5 - New English Translation (NET)

Nehemiah Intervenes on behalf of the Oppressed5 Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.[a] 2 There were those who said, “With our sons and daughters, we are many. We must obtain[b] grain in order to eat and stay alive.” 3 There were others who said,...
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