Nehemiah Confronts the Nobles
Nehemiah 5
Amid famine and heavy taxation, many of the people cry out that they must mortgage their fields and sell their children into slavery to survive, and Nehemiah rebukes the nobles for this exaction, persuading them to restore what they had taken while he himself, as governor, refrained from demanding provisions from the people.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW there was a great cry of the people and their wives, against their brethren the Jews.
BrentonAnd the cry of the people and their wives was great against their brethren the Jews.
GreekΚαὶ ἡ κραυγὴ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ γυναικῶν αὐτῶν μεγάλη πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν τοὺς Ἰουδαίους.
KJVAnd there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
JPSThen there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2
ThomsonThere were some who said, We with our sons and our daughters are many, therefore we will take corn that we may eat and live.
BrentonAnd some said, We are numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live.
GreekΚαὶ ἦσάν τινες λέγοντες, ἐν υἱοῖς ἡμῶν καὶ ἐν θυγατράσιν ἡμῶν ἡμεῖς πολλοὶ, καὶ λημψόμεθα σῖτον καὶ φαγόμεθα καὶ ζησόμεθα.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor there were that said: ‘We, our sons and our daughters, are many; let us get for them corn, that we may eat and live.’
3
ThomsonThere were others who said, As for our fields and our vineyards and our houses, let us mortgage them that we may get corn and eat.
BrentonAnd some said, As to our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge them, and we will take corn, and eat.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσί τινες λέγοντες, ἀγροὶ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνες ἡμῶν καὶ οἰκίαι ἡμῶν, ἡμεῖς διεγγυῶμεν καὶ ληψόμεθα σῖτον καὶ φαγόμεθα.
KJVSome also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
JPSSome also there were that said: ‘We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses; let us get corn, because of the dearth.’
4
ThomsonThere were others who said, We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tribute, and pledged our fields and our vineyards and our houses,
BrentonAnd some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes:—our fields, and our vineyards, and houses are pledged.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσί τινες λέγοντες, ἐδανεισάμεθα ἀργύριον εἰς φόρους τοῦ βασιλέως, ἀγροὶ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνες ἡμῶν καὶ οἰκίαι ἡμῶν.
KJVThere were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
JPSThere were also that said: ‘We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
5
Thomsonand now our flesh is the same as that of our brethren, our sons the same as theirs, yet behold we are subjecting our sons and our daughters to be slaves, nay, some of our daughters are already subjected to bondage, and we have no means to redeem them, for our nobles have got our fields and our vineyards.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ὡς σὰρξ ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν, σὰρξ ἡμῶν· ὡς υἱοὶ αὐτῶν, υἱοὶ ἡμῶν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς καταδυναστεύομεν τοὺς υἱοὺς ἡμῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ἡμῶν εἰς δούλους, καὶ εἰσὶν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων ἡμῶν καταδυναστευόμεναι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δύναμις χειρῶν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀγροὶ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνες ἡμῶν τοῖς ἐντίμοις.
KJVYet 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.
JPSYet 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 into bondage already; neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.’
6
ThomsonUpon hearing their cry and these speeches, I was exceedingly grieved.
BrentonAnd I was much grieved as I heard their cry and these words.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλυπήθην σφόδρα καθὼς ἤκουσα τὴν κραυγὴν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς λόγους τούτους.
KJVAnd I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
JPSAnd I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7
ThomsonAnd having consulted in my own mind, I chided the nobles and the chiefs, and said to them, Would any man exact of his brother what you exact? Then having assembled a great meeting against them,
BrentonAnd 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,
GreekΚαὶ ἐβουλεύσατο καρδία μου ἐπʼ ἐμέ· καὶ ἐμαχεσάμην πρὸς τους ἐντίμους καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς, ἀπαιτήσει ἀνὴρ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ἃ ὑμεῖς ἀπαιτεῖτε; καὶ ἔδωκα ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἐκκλησίαν μεγάλην,
KJVThen 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.
JPSThen I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them: ‘Ye lend upon pledge, every one to his brother.’ And I held a great assembly against them.
8
ThomsonI said to them, We with our free-will offerings have purchased our brethren, the Jews who were sold to the nations; and are you going to sell your brethren that they may be sold to us? And when they held their peace and found no answer,
Brentonand 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.
Greekκαὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς, ἡμεῖς κεκτήμεθα τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς πωλουμένους τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐν ἑκουσίῳ ἡμῶν· καὶ ὑμεῖς πωλεῖτε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν, καὶ παραδοθήσονται ἡμῖν; καὶ ἡσύχασαν, καὶ οὐχ εὕροσαν λόγον.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd I said unto them: ‘We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that sold themselves unto the heathen; and would ye nevertheless sell your brethren, and should they sell themselves unto us?’ Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
9
ThomsonI said, This thing which you do is not good. It is not in this manner that you are in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of the nations, our enemies.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, οὐκ ἀγαθὸς ὁ λόγος ὃν ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε· οὐχ οὕτως ἐν φόβῳ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἀπελεύσεσθε ἀπὸ ὀνειδισμοῦ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν.
KJVAlso 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?
JPSAlso I said: ‘The thing that ye do is not good; ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10
ThomsonMy brethren and my acquaintances, and I myself, have lent them money and provisions. Let us I pray you relinquish our demands for this.
BrentonBoth my brethren, and my acquaintances, and I, have lent them money and corn: let us now leave off this exaction.
GreekΚαὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου καὶ οἱ γνωστοί μου καὶ ἐγὼ ἐθήκαμεν αὐτοῖς ἀργύριον καὶ σῖτον· ἐγκατελίπωμεν δὴ τὴν ἀπαίτησιν ταύτην.
KJVI likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
JPSAnd I likewise, my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this exaction.
11
ThomsonRestore to them, I beseech you, this very day their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive yards, and their houses; and abate the price at which you have sold to each other corn and wine and oil.
BrentonRestore 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.
GreekἘπιστρέψατε δὴ αὐτοῖς ὡς σήμερον ἀγροὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλαιῶνας αὐτῶν καὶ οἰκίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀργυρίου τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὸν οἶνον καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον ἐξενέγκατε ἑαυτοῖς.
KJVRestore, 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.
JPSRestore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundred pieces of silver, and the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.’
12
ThomsonThereupon they said, We will restore, and require nothing of them. We will do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests and having caused them to swear that they would do according to this decree,
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν, ἀποδώσομεν, καὶ παρʼ αὐτῶν οὐ ζητήσομεν, οὕτως ποιήσομεν καθὼς σὺ λέγεις· καὶ ἐκάλεσα τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ ὥρκισα αὐτοὺς ποιῆσαι ὡς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.
KJVThen 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.
JPSThen said they: ‘We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest.’ Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13
ThomsonI shook my robe and said, So may God shake every man who will not perform this promise, out of his house and from his labour, and let them be shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord, and the people executed the decree.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ τὴν ἀναβολήν μου ἐξετίναξα, καὶ εἶπα, οὕτως ἐκτινάξαι ὁ Θεὸς πάντα ἄνδρα, ὃς οὐ στήσει τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ κόπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσται οὕτως ἐκτετιναγμένος καὶ κενός· καὶ εἶπε πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία, ἀμην· καὶ ᾔνεσαν τὸν Κύριον· καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ λαὸς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.
KJVAlso 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.
JPSAlso I shook out 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.
14
ThomsonFrom the day I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Juda—from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of Arthasastha—for twelve years, I and my brethren did not eat the daily allowance which was their due—
BrentonFrom 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.
GreekἈπὸ ἡμέρας ἧς ἐνετείλατό μοι εἶναι εἰς ἄρχοντα αὐτῶν ἐν γῇ Ἰούδα, ἀπὸ ἔτους εἰκοστοῦ καὶ ἕως ἔτους τριακοστοῦ καὶ δευτέρου τῷ Ἀρθασασθὰ ἔτη δώδεκα, ἐγὼ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου βίαν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔφαγον.
KJVMoreover 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.
JPSMoreover 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.
15
Thomsonthose daily allowances with which they who were before me had loaded them, and which they had exacted from them in bread and wine, to the amount at least of forty didrachms of silver. They indeed who had been displaced, tyrannised over the people; but as for me I did not do so; because I feared God.
BrentonBut 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.
GreekΚαὶ τὰς βίας τὰς πρώτας ἃς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἐβάρυναν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐλάβοσαν παρʼ αὐτῶν ἐν ἄρτοις καὶ ἐν οἴνῳ ἔσχατον ἀργύριον δίδραχμα τεσσαράκοντα· καὶ οἱ ἐκτετιναγμένοι αὐτῶν ἐξουσιάζονται ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν· κᾀγὼ οὐκ ἐποίησα οὕτως ἀπὸ προσώπου φόβου Θεοῦ.
KJVBut 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.
JPSBut the former governors that were before me laid burdens upon the people, and took of them for bread and wine above forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants lorded over the people; but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16
ThomsonEven in the work of the wall, I did not domineer over them; nor did I purchase a field: and all who were employed with me there in the work,
BrentonAlso in the work of the wall I treated them not with rigour, I bought not land: and all that were gathered together came thither to the work.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν ἔργῳ τοῦ τείχους τούτων οὐκ ἐκράτησα, ἀγρὸν οὐκ ἐκτησάμην, καὶ πάντες οἱ συνηγμένοι ἐκεῖ ἐπὶ τὸ ἔργον.
KJVYea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
JPSYea, also I set hand to the work of this wall, neither bought we any land; and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17
Thomsoneven a hundred and fifty chief men of the Jews, besides those who came to us, from the nations around us, were at my table.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἑκατὸν καὶ πεντήκοντα ἄνδρες, καὶ ἐρχόμενοι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ τράπεζάν μου.
KJVMoreover 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.
JPSMoreover there were at my table of the Jews and the rulers a hundred and fifty men, beside those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.
18
ThomsonAnd the daily provisions for my table, was one ox, six choice sheep, and a kid for myself; and every ten days wine in plenty for all. Yet for all this I did not demand the daily allowance of bread, because the bondage was heavy upon the people.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ ἦν γινόμενον εἰς ἡμέραν μίαν μόσχος εἷς, καὶ πρόβατα ἓξ ἐκλεκτὰ καὶ χίμαρος ἐγίνοντό μοι· καὶ ἀναμέσον δέκα ἡμερῶν ἐν πᾶσιν οἶνος τῷ πλήθει· καὶ σὺν τούτοις ἄρτους τῆς βίας οὐκ ἐζήτησα, ὅτι βαρεῖα ἡ δουλεία ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον.
KJVNow 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.
JPSNow 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 store of all sorts of wine; yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the service was heavy upon this people.
19
ThomsonRemember me, O my God, for good, for all I have done for this people.
BrentonRemember me, O God, for good, in all that I have done to this people.
GreekΜνήσθητί μου ὁ Θεὸς εἰς ἀγαθὸν πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ.
KJVThink upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
JPSRemember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.