Nehemiah 5:9
 Nehemiah 5:9 
New International Version (©2011)
So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then I pressed further, "What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?

English Standard Version (©2001)
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?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Again I said, "The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then I said, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?

International Standard Version (©2012)
So I said, "What you're doing isn't right! Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to avoid shame from our foreign enemies?

NET Bible (©2006)
Then I said, "The thing that you are doing is wrong! Should you not conduct yourselves in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
I added, "What you're doing is wrong. Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God to keep our enemies from ridiculing us?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Also I said, It is not good what you do: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

American King James Version
Also I said, It is not good that you do: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

American Standard Version
Also 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 nations our enemies?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said to them: The thing you do is not good: why walk you not in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles our enemies?

Darby Bible Translation
And I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies?

English Revised Version
Also 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?

Webster's Bible Translation
Also I said, That is not good which ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

World English Bible
Also I said, "The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

Young's Literal Translation
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?

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Also I said, it is not good that ye do,.... The meaning is, that it was very bad; it is a "meiosis", by which more is intended than is expressed:

continued...


Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Nehemiah, moreover, continued (ויאמר, the Chethiv, is evidently a clerical error for ואמר, for the Niphal ויּאמר does not suit): "The thing ye do is not good: ought ye not ( equals ye surely ought) to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?" i.e., we ought not, by harsh and unloving conduct towards our brethren, to give our enemies occasion to calumniate us.


Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God - If ye wish to accredit that religion ye profess which comes from the God of justice and mercy; should you not, in the sight of the heathen, abstain from injustice and cruelty? Can they credit your profession, when they see such practices? The inconsistent conduct of some professors of religion does much harm in the Church of God.


Geneva Study Bible

{i} Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the {k} reproach of the heathen our enemies?

(i) Meaning, Nehemiah.

(k) Who by this occasion will blaspheme the Name of God, seeing that our actions are no better than theirs.


Wesley's Notes

5:9 Reproach - Who are round about you, and observe all your actions, and will reproach both you for such barbarous usage of your brethren, and religion for your sakes.


Nehemiah 5:9 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed
8And I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers the Jews, which were sold to the heathen; and will you even sell your brothers? or shall they be sold to us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9Also I said, It is not good that you do: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10I likewise, and my brothers, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. …

Nehemiah 4:4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
Nehemiah 5:10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest!
Nehemiah 5:15 But the earlier governors--those preceding me--placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.
Psalm 90:11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.