Nehemiah 5:1-9 ▼

1 And the cry of the people and their wives was great against their brethren the Jews.

2 And some said, We are numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live.

3 And some said, As to our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge them , and we will take corn, and eat.

4 And some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes: - our fields, and our vineyards, and houses are pledged .

5 And 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.

6 And I was much grieved as I heard their cry and these words.

7 And 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,

8 and 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.

9 And 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.