Nehemiah

Chapter 5

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּehi֨y tza'aqa֥t ha'a֛m uneshsheyhe֖m gּedola֑h 'el-'acheyhe֖m hayּehudiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.

וַתְּהִ֨י צַעֲקַ֥ת הָעָ֛ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם גְּדוֹלָ֑ה אֶל־אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veyeshsh֙ 'ashshe֣r 'omeri֔ym bּane֥ynu ubenote֖ynu 'ana֣chenu rabּi֑ym veniqecha֥h daga֖n veno'kela֥h venicheyeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."

וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים בָּנֵ֥ינוּ וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ רַבִּ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה וְנִחְיֶֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veyeshsh֙ 'ashshe֣r 'omeri֔ym shsedote֛ynu ukerame֥ynu ubatּe֖ynu 'ana֣chenu 'orebi֑ym veniqecha֥h daga֖n bּara'aֽb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."

וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים שְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ וּבָתֵּ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹרְבִ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן בָּרָעָֽב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veyeshsh֙ 'ashshe֣r 'omeri֔ym lavi֥ynu ke֖sep lemidּa֣t hamּe֑leke shsedote֖ynu ukerameֽynu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים לָוִ֥ינוּ כֶ֖סֶף לְמִדַּ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּa֗h kּibeshsa֤r 'ache֨ynu֙ bּeshsare֔nu kּibeneyhe֖m bּane֑ynu vehinּe֣h 'ana֣chenu ko֠beshshiym 'et-bּane֨ynu ve'et-bּenote֜ynu la'abadi֗ym veye֨shsh mibּenote֤ynu nikebּashshot֙ ve'e֣yn le'e֣l yade֔nu ushsedote֥ynu ukerame֖ynu la'acheriֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and our vineyards belong to others."

וְעַתָּ֗ה כִּבְשַׂ֤ר אַחֵ֨ינוּ֙ בְּשָׂרֵ֔נוּ כִּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם בָּנֵ֑ינוּ וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֲנַ֣חְנוּ כֹ֠בְשִׁים אֶת־בָּנֵ֨ינוּ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֜ינוּ לַעֲבָדִ֗ים וְיֵ֨שׁ מִבְּנֹתֵ֤ינוּ נִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙ וְאֵ֣ין לְאֵ֣ל יָדֵ֔נוּ וּשְׂדֹתֵ֥ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ לַאֲחֵרִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּi֥char li֖y me'o֑d kּa'ashshe֤r shshama֨'etּiy֙ 'et-zaֽ'aqata֔m ve'e֖t hadּebari֥ym ha'eֽlּeh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.

וַיִּ֥חַר לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־זַֽעֲקָתָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּimּale֨ke libּi֜y 'ala֗y va'ari֨ybah֙ 'et-hachori֣ym ve'et-hasּegani֔ym va'omera֣h lahe֔m mashshּa֥ 'iyshsh-bּe'achi֖yv 'atּe֣m nsh'ym noshshi֑ym va'etּe֥n 'aleyhe֖m qehilּa֥h gedolaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are charging your own people interest!" So I called together a large assembly to deal with them

וַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְ לִבִּ֜י עָלַ֗י וָאָרִ֨יבָה֙ אֶת־הַחֹרִ֣ים וְאֶת־הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מַשָּׁ֥א אִישׁ־בְּאָחִ֖יו אַתֶּ֣ם נשאים נֹשִׁ֑ים וָאֶתֵּ֥ן עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם קְהִלָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'omera֣h lahe֗m 'ana֣chenu qa֠niynu 'et-'ache֨ynu hayּehudi֜ym hanּimekּari֤ym lagּoyim֙ kּede֣y ba֔nu vegam-'atּe֛m tּimekּer֥u 'et-'acheyke֖m venimekּeru-la֑nu vֽayּachari֔yshshu velo֥ matze'֖u dּabaֽr׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם אֲנַ֣חְנוּ קָ֠נִינוּ אֶת־אַחֵ֨ינוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַנִּמְכָּרִ֤ים לַגּוֹיִם֙ כְּדֵ֣י בָ֔נוּ וְגַם־אַתֶּ֛ם תִּמְכְּר֥וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֖ם וְנִמְכְּרוּ־לָ֑נוּ וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ וְלֹ֥א מָצְא֖וּ דָּבָֽר׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vy'mr va'oma֕r lo'-t֥ob hadּaba֖r 'ashsher-'atּe֣m 'oshsi֑ym hal֞o bּeyire'a֤t 'elohe֨ynu֙ tּele֔ku mecherepּa֖t hagּoyi֥m 'oyebeֽynu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?

ויאמר וָאוֹמַ֕ר לֹא־ט֥וֹב הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים הֲל֞וֹא בְּיִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ מֵחֶרְפַּ֖ת הַגּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vegam-'aniy֙ 'acha֣y une'ara֔y noshshi֥ym bּahe֖m kּe֣sep vedaga֑n naֽ'azebah-nּa֖ 'et-hamּashshּa֥ hazּeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest!

וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ אַחַ֣י וּנְעָרַ֔י נֹשִׁ֥ים בָּהֶ֖ם כֶּ֣סֶף וְדָגָ֑ן נַֽעַזְבָה־נָּ֖א אֶת־הַמַּשָּׁ֥א הַזֶּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): hashshiybu֩ na֨ lahe֜m kּehayּ֗om shsedoteyhe֛m kּaremeyhe֥m zeyteyhe֖m ubatּeyhe֑m ume'a֨t hakּe֤sep vehadּagan֙ hatּiyr֣oshsh vehayּitzeha֔r 'ashshe֥r 'atּe֖m noshshi֥ym bּaheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them, the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil."

הָשִׁיבוּ֩ נָ֨א לָהֶ֜ם כְּהַיּ֗וֹם שְׂדֹתֵיהֶ֛ם כַּרְמֵיהֶ֥ם זֵיתֵיהֶ֖ם וּבָתֵּיהֶ֑ם וּמְאַ֨ת הַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַדָּגָן֙ הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם נֹשִׁ֥ים בָּהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֣u nashshi֗yb umehem֙ lo֣ nebaqּe֔shsh kּe֣n na'ashse֔h kּa'ashshe֖r 'atּa֣h 'ome֑r va'eqera'֙ 'et-hakּo֣hani֔ym vaֽ'ashshebּiy'e֔m la'ashs֖ot kּadּaba֥r hazּeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ נָשִׁ֗יב וּמֵהֶם֙ לֹ֣א נְבַקֵּ֔שׁ כֵּ֣ן נַעֲשֶׂ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה אוֹמֵ֑ר וָאֶקְרָא֙ אֶת־הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וָֽאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּam-chatzeni֣y na'a֗retּiy vaֽ'omera֡h kּa֣kah yena'e֪r haֽ'elohi֟ym 'et-kּal-ha'iyshsh֩ 'ashshe֨r loֽ'-yaqi֜ym 'et-hadּaba֣r hazּe֗h mibּeyto֙ umi֣ygiy'֔o veka֛kah yiheye֥h na'֖ur vare֑q vayּo'mer֨u kaֽl-haqּaha֜l 'ame֗n vaֽyehalelu֙ 'et-yehva֔h vayּa֥'ashs ha'a֖m kּadּaba֥r hazּeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

גַּם־חָצְנִ֣י נָעַ֗רְתִּי וָֽאֹמְרָ֡ה כָּ֣כָה יְנַעֵ֪ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֟ים אֶת־כָּל־הָאִישׁ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יָקִ֜ים אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה מִבֵּיתוֹ֙ וּמִ֣יגִיע֔וֹ וְכָ֛כָה יִהְיֶ֥ה נָע֖וּר וָרֵ֑ק וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ כָֽל־הַקָּהָ֜ל אָמֵ֗ן וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָעָ֖ם כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֞m miyּ֣om ׀ 'ashsher-tziua֣h 'oti֗y lihey֣ot pּecham֮ bּe'e֣retz yehudah֒ mishshּena֣t 'eshseri֗ym ve֠'ad shshena֨t shsheloshshi֤ym ushshetּa֨yim֙ le'aretּacheshsha֣setּe hamּe֔leke shshani֖ym shshetּe֣ym 'eshsere֑h 'ani֣y ve'acha֔y le֥chem hapּe֖chah lo֥ 'akaֽletּiy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year, twelve years in all, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

גַּ֞ם מִיּ֣וֹם ׀ אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה אֹתִ֗י לִהְי֣וֹת פֶּחָם֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָה֒ מִשְּׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֗ים וְ֠עַד שְׁנַ֨ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֨יִם֙ לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׁנִ֖ים שְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֑ה אֲנִ֣י וְאַחַ֔י לֶ֥חֶם הַפֶּ֖חָה לֹ֥א אָכַֽלְתִּי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehapּachot֩ hari'shshoni֨ym 'ashsher-lepana֜y hikebּi֣ydu 'al-ha'a֗m vayּiqech֨u mehe֜m bּele֤chem vaya֨yin֙ 'achar֙ kּeֽsep-shsheqali֣ym 'arebּa'i֔ym gּa֥m na'areyhe֖m shshalet֣u 'al-ha'a֑m va'aniy֙ lo'-'ashsi֣ytiy ke֔n mipּene֖y yire'a֥t 'elohiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But the earlier governors, those preceding me, placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.

וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֨ים אֲשֶׁר־לְפָנַ֜י הִכְבִּ֣ידוּ עַל־הָעָ֗ם וַיִּקְח֨וּ מֵהֶ֜ם בְּלֶ֤חֶם וָיַ֨יִן֙ אַחַר֙ כֶּֽסֶף־שְׁקָלִ֣ים אַרְבָּעִ֔ים גַּ֥ם נַעֲרֵיהֶ֖ם שָׁלְט֣וּ עַל־הָעָ֑ם וַאֲנִי֙ לֹא־עָשִׂ֣יתִי כֵ֔ן מִפְּנֵ֖י יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve֠gam bּimele֜'ket hachoma֤h hazּo't֙ hecheza֔qetּiy veshsade֖h lo֣ qani֑ynu vekal-ne'ara֔y qebutzi֥ym shsha֖m 'al-hamּela'kaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

וְ֠גַם בִּמְלֶ֜אכֶת הַחוֹמָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ הֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּי וְשָׂדֶ֖ה לֹ֣א קָנִ֑ינוּ וְכָל־נְעָרַ֔י קְבוּצִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehayּehudi֨ym vehasּegani֜ym me'a֧h vachamishshּi֣ym 'i֗yshsh vehabּa'i֥ym 'ele֛ynu min-hagּoyi֥m 'ashsher-sebiybote֖ynu 'al-shshulechaniֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations.

וְהַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְהַסְּגָנִ֜ים מֵאָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ וְהַבָּאִ֥ים אֵלֵ֛ינוּ מִן־הַגּוֹיִ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־סְבִיבֹתֵ֖ינוּ עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ashsher֩ haya֨h na'ashse֜h ley֣om 'echa֗d shsh֣or 'echa֞d tzo֠'n shsheshsh-bּerur֤ot vetzipּoriym֙ naֽ'ashsu-li֔y ube֨yn 'ashse֧ret yami֛ym bּekal-ya֖yin leharebּe֑h ve'im-ze֗h le֤chem hapּechah֙ lo֣ biqּa֔shshetּiy kּiֽy-kaֽbeda֥h ha'aboda֖h 'al-ha'a֥m hazּeֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.

וַאֲשֶׁר֩ הָיָ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה לְי֣וֹם אֶחָ֗ד שׁ֣וֹר אֶחָ֞ד צֹ֠אן שֵׁשׁ־בְּרֻר֤וֹת וְצִפֳּרִים֙ נַֽעֲשׂוּ־לִ֔י וּבֵ֨ין עֲשֶׂ֧רֶת יָמִ֛ים בְּכָל־יַ֖יִן לְהַרְבֵּ֑ה וְעִם־זֶ֗ה לֶ֤חֶם הַפֶּחָה֙ לֹ֣א בִקַּ֔שְׁתִּי כִּֽי־כָֽבְדָ֥ה הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה עַל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): zakerah-lּi֥y 'eloha֖y letoba֑h kּo֥l 'ashsher-'ashsi֖ytiy 'al-ha'a֥m hazּeֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Remember me with favour, my God, for all I have done for these people.

זָכְרָה־לִּ֥י אֱלֹהַ֖י לְטוֹבָ֑ה כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֖יתִי עַל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃פ