Oppression of the Poor
1 Some time later many of the people, both men and women, began to complain against the other Jews. 2 Some said, “We have large families, we need grain to keep us alive.”
3 Others said, “We have had to mortgage our fields and vineyards and houses to get enough grain to keep us from starving.”
4 Still others said, “We had to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 We are of the same race as the other Jews. Aren't our children just as good as theirs? But we have to make slaves of our children. Some of our daughters have already been sold as slaves. We are helpless because our fields and vineyards have been taken away from us.”
6 When I heard their complaints, I grew angry 7 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 8 and said, “As far as we have been able, we have been buying back our Jewish relatives who had to sell themselves to foreigners. Now you are forcing your own relatives to sell themselves to you, their own people!” The leaders were silent and could find nothing to say.
9 Then I said, “What you are doing is wrong! You ought to obey God and do what's right. Then you would not give our enemies, the Gentiles, any reason to ridicule us. 10 I have let the people borrow money and grain from me, and so have my companions and those who work for me. Now let's give up all our claims to repayment. 11 Cancel all the debts they owe you—money or grain or wine or olive oil. And give them back their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses right now!”
12 The leaders replied, “We'll do as you say. We'll give the property back and not try to collect the debts.”
I called in the priests and made the leaders swear in front of them to keep the promise they had just made. 13 Then I took off the sash I was wearing around my waist and shook it out. “This is how God will shake any of you who don't keep your promise,” I said. “God will take away your houses and everything you own, and will leave you with nothing.”
Everyone who was present said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. And the leaders kept their promise.
Nehemiah's Unselfishness
14 During all the twelve years that I was governor of the land of Judah, from the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor until his thirty-second year, neither my relatives nor I ate the food I was entitled to have as governor. 15 Every governor who had been in office before me had been a burden to the people and had demanded forty silver coins a day for food and wine. Even their servants had oppressed the people. But I acted differently, because I honored God. 16 I put all my energy into rebuilding the wall and did not acquire any property. Everyone who worked for me joined in the rebuilding. 17 I regularly fed at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jewish people and their leaders, besides all the people who came to me from the surrounding nations. 18 Every day I served one beef, six of the best sheep, and many chickens, and every ten days I provided a fresh supply of wine. But I knew what heavy burdens the people had to bear, and so I did not claim the allowance that the governor is entitled to.
19 I pray you, O God, remember to my credit everything that I have done for this people.
Nehemija nostājas pret augļošanu
1 Sākās liela ļaužu un sievu kliegšana pret saviem brāļiem jūdiem. 2 Un daži teica: “Mūsu, mūsu dēlu un meitu ir daudz, lai mums dod labību, ka ēdam un dzīvojam!” 3 Bet citi teica: “Mums jāieķīlā lauki, vīnadārzi un mājas, lai bada laikā dabūtu labību!” 4 Un vēl citi teica: “Mēs esam aizņēmušies naudu par saviem laukiem un vīnadārziem ķēniņa nodokļu dēļ! 5 Redzi, mūsu miesa ir tāda pati kā mūsu brāļu miesa, viņu dēli ir tādi paši kā mūsējie, taču savi dēli un meitas mums jāpadara par vergiem, un dažas mūsu meitas jau ir verdzībā, bet mēs nespējam palīdzēt, jo mūsu lauki un vīnadārzi pieder citiem!”
6 Izdzirdējis viņu kliegšanu un sacīto, es ļoti sadusmojos. 7 Es to rūpīgi apsvēru un norāju dižciltīgos un ierēdņus. Es sacīju: “Jūs no saviem brāļiem esat ņēmuši augļus!” Es sasaucu lielu sapulci 8 un sacīju tiem: “Cik vien bijis iespējams, mēs esam izpirkuši savus brāļus jūdus, kas pārdoti citām tautām, bet tagad jūs pārdodat savus brāļus un mums tie jāizpērk?!” Tie cieta klusu un nespēja atbildēt.
9 Tad es sacīju: “Tas, ko jūs darāt, nav labi! Vai mūsu ienaidnieku un citu tautu izsmiekla dēļ jūs esat pārstājuši bīties Dieva? 10 Arī es, mani brāļi un puiši ir devuši tiem naudu un labību, tad nu atlaidīsim tiem parādu! 11 Atdodiet jau šodien viņu laukus, vīnadārzus, olīvkokus, mājas un simto daļu viņu naudas, labības, jaunā vīna un eļļas, ko esat tiem atņēmuši!” 12 Un viņi teica: “Mēs atdosim un neatprasīsim. Mēs darīsim, kā tu sacīji!” Tad es sasaucu priesterus un liku tiem zvērēt, ka tā tiks darīts. 13 Es izpurināju apģērba azoti un teicu: “Tā Dievs izpurinās no mājas un mantības ikvienu, kurš neturēs šo solījumu! Tāds būs izpurināts un tukšs!” Visa sapulce teica: “Patiesi!” Viņi slavēja Kungu, un tauta tā darīja.
Nehemijas uzupurēšanās
14 No dienas, kad man pavēlēja būt Jūdu zemes valdniekam, no ķēniņa Artakserksa divdesmitā gada līdz trīsdesmit otrajam gadam, divpadsmit gadus ne es, ne mani brāļi neēdām valdības maizi. 15 Valdnieki, kas bija pirms manis, tautu smagi apspieda, ņēma no tiem maizei un vīnam četrdesmit šekeļus sudraba, un tautu apspieda pat viņu puiši, taču es tā nedarīju, jo bijos Dieva. 16 Turklāt es pūlējos pie mūra darbiem! Tīrumus mēs neesam ieguvuši, arī visi mani puiši bija pie kopīgā darba. 17 Pie mana galda ēda jūdi un ierēdņi, simts piecdesmit vīru, pie mums nāca arī cittautieši no apkārtnes. 18 Katru dienu tika gatavots viens vērsis, sešas nevainojamas avis un gatavoja arī putnus, un ik pa desmit dienām ļoti daudz vīna no visām šķirnēm! Un tomēr es nelūkoju pēc valdības maizes, jo tautai šī kalpošana bija smaga! 19 Atceries mani, Kungs, par visu labo, ko esmu darījis šai tautai!
