Nehemiah 5
The Payment of Interest
Abolished |
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And there was a great cry of the people
and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
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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.
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Some also there were that said, We
have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy
corn, because of the dearth.
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There were also that said, We have
borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our
lands and vineyards.
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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 into bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem
them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
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And I was very angry when I heard their
cry and these words.
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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. Ex. 22.25 · Lev. 25.35-37 · Deut. 23.19, 20 And I set a great assembly against them.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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13 |
Also I shook my lap, and said, So God
shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, 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.
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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 Artaxerx'es
the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not
eaten the bread of the governor.
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15 |
But the former governors that had
been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of
them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even
their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because
of the fear of God.
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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.
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Moreover there were at my table a
hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came
unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
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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.
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19 |
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this
people.
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