Nehemiah Chapter 5
The people and their wives were throwing a major vibe check at their fellow Jews.
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
Some were saying, "Our kids are a handful, so we gotta grab some corn to eat and survive, fr."
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.
Others chimed in, "We had to mortgage our lands, vineyards, and homes just to get corn 'cause it's hella dry out here."
{Some} also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
Then some were like, "We borrowed cash for the king’s taxes on our lands and vineyards."
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, {and that upon} our lands and vineyards.
But now our flesh is just like our homies, and our kids are like their kids: we’re putting our sons and daughters into servitude, and some of our girls are already stuck in that grind; we can't even save them 'cause other dudes own our stuff.
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.
I felt mad af when I heard their cries and those words, periodt.
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
So I had a serious talk with myself, called out the nobles and rulers, and was like, "Y'all are charging interest on your own fam!" Then I rallied a crew against them.
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. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me}
I said, "We’ve rescued our fellow Jews sold to outsiders; are you really gonna sell your own? Or should they be brought back to us?" They were quiet and had nothing to say.
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}.
I was like, "What you're doing is hella sus; shouldn’t you fear our God ‘cause of the outsiders’ rep?"
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?
I could’ve also charged them cash and corn, but I'm asking y'all to end this usury, no cap.
I likewise, {and} my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
"Please return their lands, vineyards, oliveyards, and houses today, plus the extra cash, corn, wine, and oil you took from them."
Restore, 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.
They were like, "Bet, we’ll give it back and won’t ask for anything in return; we’ll follow your lead." So I called the priests and had them swear to keep this promise.
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.
I shook out my lap and said, "May God shake out any dude from his crib and gig who doesn’t keep this promise; let him be empty." Everyone in the crowd said, "Amen," and praised the Lord. They kept their word.
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. {emptied: Heb. empty, or, void}
From the time I became their governor in Judah, for twelve years from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, my bros and I didn’t munch on the governor's bread.
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.
The governors before me were taxing the people, taking their bread and wine, plus forty shekels of silver; their servants were running the show, but I wasn’t about that grind 'cause I feared God.
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.
I kept putting in work on this wall, didn’t buy any land, and all my servants were right there grinding too.
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.
Plus, I had 150 Jews and rulers at my table, not counting those who rolled in from the outsiders around us.
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.
What I had daily was one ox and six choice sheep, plus birds were cooked for me, and every ten days I had a stash of all kinds of wine; but still, I didn’t take the governor's bread, 'cause the people were struggling hard.
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.
Remember me, my God, for good, based on all I’ve done for these people.
Think upon me, my God, for good, {according} to all that I have done for this people.