Nehemiah 5 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Nehemiah 5 (WEBP)

[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 Yahweh. 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.

Nehemiah 5:5 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
Nehemiah 5:15 A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Nehemiah 5 (KJVS)

[1] And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews .
[2] 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 ().
[3] [Some] also there were that said (), We have mortgaged () our lands , vineyards , and houses , that we might buy () corn , because of the dearth .
[4] There were also that said (), We have borrowed () money for the king’s tribute , [and that upon] our lands and vineyards .
[5] 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 .
[6] And I was very angry () when I heard () their cry and these words .
[7] Then I consulted () with myself , and I rebuked () the nobles , and the rulers , and said () unto them, Ye exact () (8678) () (8675) () usury , every one of his brother . And I set () a great assembly against them.
[8] 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].
[9] 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 ()?
[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 .
[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.
[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 .
[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 .
[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 .
[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] 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 .
[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 .
[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 .
[19] Think () upon me, my God , for good , [according] to all that I have done () for this people .

Young’s Literal Translation

Nehemiah 5 (YLT)

[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, on our fields, and our vineyards;
[5] and now, as the flesh of our brethren is our flesh, as their sons are 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 are 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 is 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 is 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 part 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 are 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 are round about us, are at my table;
[18] and that which hath been prepared for one day is 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.