Nehemiah:5

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* And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews . * 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 . * Some also there were that said , We have mortgaged our lands , vineyards , and houses , that we might buy corn , because of the dearth ra #ab #. * There were also that said , We have borrowed money for the kings tribute , and that upon our lands and vineyards . * 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 #H3027to redeem them ; for other men have our lands and vineyards . * And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 ? * I likewise , and my brethren , and my servants na #ar #, might exact of them money and corn : I pray you , let us leave off this usury . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 sh @nayim # years , I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor . * But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people , and had taken of them bread and wine , beside forty #arba #iym # shekels of silver ; yea , even their servants bare rule over the people : but so did not I , because of the fear of God . * 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 m @la #kah #. * Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty chamishshiym # of the Jews and rulers , beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us . * Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep tso #n #; 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 . * Think upon me , my God , for good , according to all that I have done for this people .

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