The Anxiety of Men - Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5:1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their  wives against their brethren the Jews. 

Nehemiah 5:2 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. 

Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have  mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might  buy corn, because of the dearth. 

Nehemiah 5:4 There were also that  said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and  that upon our lands and vineyards. 

Nehemiah 5:5 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  to redeem them; for other men have our lands and  vineyards. 

Nehemiah 5:6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and  these words. 

Nehemiah 5:7 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. 

Nehemiah 5:8 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. 

Nehemiah 5:9 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? 

Nehemiah 5:10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my  servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you,  let us leave off this usury. 

Nehemiah 5:11 Restore, I pray you, to  them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their  oliveyards, and their houses, also the the hundredth part of  the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye  exact of them. 

Nehemiah 5:12 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. 

Nehemiah 5:13  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.  

Nehemiah 5:14 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 Artaxerxes the king,  that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the  bread of the governor. 

Nehemiah 5:15 But the former governors that  had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and  had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of  silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but  so did not I, because of the fear of God. 

Nehemiah 5:16 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. 

Nehemiah 5:17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred  and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto  us from among the heathen that are about us. 

Nehemiah 5:18 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. 

Nehemiah 5:19 Think upon me, my God,  for good, according to all that I have done for this people.  

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