נְחֶמְיָה

Nehemiah — Chapter 5

Read Nehemiah Chapter 5 in Biblical Hebrew alongside the King James Version (KJV) — 19 verses. Original Hebrew text with vowel points (nikud) and full English translation.

וַתְּהִ֥י צַעֲקַ֛ת הָעָ֖ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם גְּדוֹלָ֕ה אֶ֖ל אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃

KJVAnd there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.

וְיֵ֣שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֗ים בָּנֵ֤ינוּ וּבְנֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ רַבִּ֔ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה וְנִחְיֶֽה׃

KJVFor 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.

For there were those who said: With our sons and our daughters, we are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.

וְיֵ֣שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֗ים שְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ וּבָתֵּ֖ינוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹרְבִ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן בָּרָעָֽב׃

KJVSome also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

There were also those who said: We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.

וְיֵ֣שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֗ים לָוִ֜ינוּ כֶּ֤סֶף לְמִדַּת הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃

KJVThere were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

And there were those who said: We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.

וְעַתָּ֡ה כִּבְשַׂ֣ר אַחֵ֡ינוּ בְּשָׂרֵ֡נוּ כִּבְנֵיהֶ֡ם בָּנֵ֡ינוּ וְהִנֵּ֡ה אֲנַ֡חְנוּ כֹבְשִׁ֡ים אֶת בָּנֵ֡ינוּ וְאֶת בְּנֹתֵ֡ינוּ לַעֲבָדִ֡ים וְיֵ֡שׁ מִבְּנֹתֵ֡ינוּ נִכְבָּשׁ֑וֹת וְאֵ֣ין לְאֵ֣ל יָדֵ֡ינוּ וּשְׂדֹתֵ֡ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֡ינוּ לַאֲחֵרִֽים׃

KJVYet 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.

Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.

וַיִּ֥חַר לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי אֶֽת זַעֲקָתָ֖ם וְאֵ֥ת הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

KJVAnd I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

וַיִּמָּלֵ֥ךְ לִבִּ֖י עָלָ֑י וָאָרִ֛יבָה אֶת הַחֹרִ֥ים וְאֶת הַסְּגָנִ֖ים וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם מַשָּׁ֤א אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו֙ אַתֶּ֣ם נֹשִׁ֔אים וָאֶתֵּ֧ן עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם קְהִלָּ֖ה גְּדוֹלָֽה׃

KJVThen 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.

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.

וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֡ם אֲנַ֡חְנוּ קָנִ֡ינוּ אֶת אַחֵ֡ינוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים הַנִּמְכָּרִ֡ים לַגּוֹיִ֡ם כְּדֵ֡י בָנוּ֩ וְגַם אַתֶּ֨ם תִּמְכְּר֤וּ אֶת אֲחֵיכֶם֙ וְנִמְכְּר֣וּ לָ֔נוּ וַיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ וְלֹ֥א מָצְא֖וּ דָּבָֽר׃

KJVAnd 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.

And I said to them: We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us! They were silent and could not find a word to say.

וָאֹמַ֗ר לֹ֤א טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים הֲל֞וֹא בְּיִרְאַ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ תֵּלֵ֡כוּ מֵ֣חֶרְפַּ֡ת הַגּוֹיִ֡ם אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

KJVAlso 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?

So I said: The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?

וְגַם אֲנִ֡י אַחַ֡י וּנְעָרַ֡י נֹשִׁ֡ים בָּהֶ֡ם כֶּ֡סֶף וְדָגָ֡ן נַעַזְבָה נָּ֡א אֶת הַמַּשָּׁ֡א הַזֶּֽה׃

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

Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.

הָשִׁ֣יבוּ נָ֡א לָהֶ֡ם כְּהַיּ֡וֹם שְׂדֹתֵיהֶ֡ם כַּרְמֵיהֶ֡ם זֵיתֵיהֶ֡ם וּבָתֵּיהֶ֡ם וּמְאַ֣ת הַכֶּ֡סֶף וְהַדָּגָ֡ן הַתִּיר֡וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֡ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֡ם נֹשִׁ֡ים בָּהֶֽם׃

KJVRestore, 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.

Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the fraction of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ נָשִׁ֣יב וּמֵהֶ֡ם לֹ֡א נְבַקֵּ֡שׁ כֵּ֡ן נַעֲשֶׂ֡ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֡ה אוֹמֵ֡ר וָאֶקְרָ֡א אֶת הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים וָאַשְׁבִּ֡יעֵם לַעֲשׂ֡וֹת כַּדָּבָ֡ר הַזֶּֽה׃

KJVThen 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.

Then they said: We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say. And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.

גַּם חָצְנִי֙ נָעַ֔רְתִּי וָאֹמְרָ֗ה כָּ֣כָה יְנַעֵ֣ר הָאֱלֹהִ֣ים אֶת כָּל הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא יָקִ֡ים אֶת הַדָּבָ֡ר הַזֶּ֡ה מִבֵּית֡וֹ וּמִיגִיע֡וֹ וְכָ֡כָה יִהְיֶ֡ה נָע֡וּר וָרֵ֡יק וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ כָּ֡ל הַקָּהָ֡ל אָמֵ֡ן וַיְהַלְל֡וּ אֶת יְהוָ֡ה וַיַּ֣עַשׂ הָעָ֡ם כַּדָּבָ֡ר הַזֶּֽה׃

KJVAlso 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.

I also shook out the fold of my garment and said: So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said Amen and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

גַּ֣ם מִיּ֡וֹם אֲשֶׁ֡ר צִוָּ֡ה אֹתִ֡י לִהְי֣וֹת פַּחֲמ֣וֹ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֡ה מִשְּׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֡ים וְעַ֣ד שְׁנַ֡ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֡ים וּשְׁתַּ֡יִם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֡סְתְּא הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ שְׁנֵ֡ים עֶשְׂרֵ֡ה שָׁנָ֡ה אֲנִ֡י וְאַחַ֡י לֶ֡חֶם הַפֶּחָ֡ה לֹ֡א אָכָֽלְנוּ׃

KJVMoreover 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.

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.

וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֨ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר לְפָנַי֙ הִכְבִּ֣ידוּ עַל הָעָ֔ם וַיִּקְח֣וּ מֵהֶ֗ם בְּלֶ֤חֶם וָיַ֙יִן֙ אַחַ֣ר כֶּ֔סֶף שְׁקָלִ֖ים אַרְבָּעִ֑ים גַּ֚ם נַעֲרֵיהֶ֔ם שָׁ֣לְטוּ עַל הָעָ֔ם וַאֲנִ֕י לֹ֣א עָשִׂ֔יתִי כֵ֕ן מִפְּנֵ֖י יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃

KJVBut 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.

The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

וְגַם בִּמְלֶ֣אכֶת הַחוֹמָ֡ה הֶחֱזַ֡קְתִּי וּשְׂדֶ֡ה לֹ֡א קָנִ֡ינוּ וְכָ֡ל נְעָרַ֡י קְבוּצִ֡ים שָׁ֡ם עַל הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃

KJVYea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

I also devoted myself to the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

וְהַיְּהוּדִ֡ים וְהַסְּגָנִ֡ים מֵאָ֣ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֡ים אִ֡ישׁ וְהַבָּאִ֡ים אֵלֵ֡ינוּ מִן הַגּוֹיִ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִיבֹתֵ֡ינוּ עַ֣ל שֻׁלְחָנִֽי׃

KJVMoreover 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.

Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.

וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֡ה נַעֲשֶׂ֡ה לְיֽוֹם אֶחָ֡ד שׁ֡וֹר אֶחָ֡ד צֹ֡אן שֵׁ֣שׁ בְּרוּרִ֡ות וְגַ֡ם צִפֳּרִ֡ים נַעֲשׂ֡וּ לִ֡י וּלְעֶ֣שֶׂר יָמִ֡ים בְּכָל יַ֡יִן לְרֹב֩ וְעִם זֶ֨ה לֶ֤חֶם הַפֶּ֙חָה֙ לֹ֣א בִקַּ֔שְׁתִּי כִּ֤י כָבְדָה֙ הָעֲבֹדָ֔ה עַ֖ל הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃

KJVNow 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.

Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.

זָכְרָה לִּ֣י אֱלֹהַ֔י לְטוֹבָ֖ה כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי עַ֥ל הָעָ֖ם הַזֶּֽה׃

KJVThink upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.