Nehemiah 5:7 - Forerunner Commentary

Nehemiah 5:7

5 Yet now ^aour flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we ^bare forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”

6 And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

7 After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, ^a“Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I² called a great assembly against them.

8 And I said to them, “According to our ability we have ^aredeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing to say.

9 Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk ^ain the fear of our God ^bbecause of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

10 I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this¹ usury!

11 Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them.”

12 So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.” Then I called the priests, ^aand required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise.

13 Then ^aI shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. ^bThen the people did according to this promise.

Verse Comparison: Nehemiah 5:7

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Nehemiah 5:8 >>

American Standard Version
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

Amplified® Bible
I thought it over and then rebuked the nobles and officials. I told them, You are exacting interest from your own kinsmen. And I held a great assembly against them.

Contemporary English Version
So I thought it over and said to the leaders and officials, "How can you charge your own people interest?" Then I called a public meeting and accused the leaders

Darby English Version
And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them.

Good News Bible
and decided to act. I denounced the leaders and officials of the people and told them, "You are oppressing your own relatives!" I called a public assembly to deal with the problem

King James Version
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. And I set a great assembly against them.

New American Standard Bible
I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You are exacting usury, each from his brother! Therefore, I held a great assembly against them."

New International Version
I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

New King James Version
After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, "Each of you is exacting usury from his brother." So I called a great assembly against them.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You have exacted usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

Revised Standard Version
I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them,

Young's Literal Translation
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,

New English Translation
I considered these things carefully¹ and then registered a complaint with the wealthy² and the officials. I said to them, “Each one of you is seizing the collateral³ from your own countrymen!”⁴ Because of them I called for⁵ a great public assembly.

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