Liber Nehemiae

Nehemiae, chapter 5, Vulgate and King James Version

Chapter 5 Vulgate

   1 Et factus est clamor populi et uxorum eius magnus adversus fratres suos Iudaeos.
   2 Et erant qui dicerent: "Filios nostros et filias nostras pignoravimus, ut acciperemus frumentum et comederemus et viveremus!".
   3 Et erant qui dicerent: "Agros nostros et vineas et domos nostras opposuimus, ut acciperemus frumentum in fame!".
   4 Et alii dicebant: "Mutuo sumpsimus pecunias in tributa regis pro agris nostris et vineis nostris.
   5 Et nunc sicut caro fratrum nostrorum sic caro nostra est, et sicut filii eorum ita et filii nostri; ecce nos subiugamus filios nostros et filias nostras in servitutem, et de filiabus nostris quaedam iam in servitute subiugatae sunt, nec habemus unde possint redimi, quia agros nostros et vineas nostras alii possident".
   6 Et iratus sum nimis, cum audissem clamorem eorum secundum verba haec.
   7 Cogitavique in corde meo et increpavi optimates et magistratus et dixi eis: "Usuras singuli a fratribus vestris exigitis!". Et congregavi adversum eos contionem magnam
   8 et dixi eis: "Nos, ut scitis, redemimus fratres nostros Iudaeos, qui venditi fuerant gentibus, secundum possibilitatem nostram; quin potius et vos vendetis fratres vestros, ut vendentur nobis?". Et siluerunt nec invenerunt quid responderent.
   9 Dixique ad eos: "Non est bona res, quam facitis. Quare non in timore Dei nostri ambulatis, ne exprobretur nobis a gentibus inimicis nostris?
   10 Et ego et fratres mei et pueri mei commodavimus plurimis pecuniam et frumentum; non repetamus usuras istas.
   11 Reddite eis hodie agros suos et vineas suas et oliveta sua et domos suas et centesimam pecuniae frumenti vini et olei, quam exigere soletis ab eis".
   12 Et dixerunt: "Reddemus et ab eis nihil quaeremus; sicque faciemus, ut loqueris". Et vocavi sacerdotes et feci eos iurare, ut facerent, sicut dictum erat.
   13 Insuper excussi sinum meum et dixi: "Sic excutiat Deus omnem virum, qui non compleverit verbum istud, de domo sua et de laboribus suis; sic excutiatur et vacuus fiat!". Et dixit universa multitudo: "Amen!". Et laudaverunt Deum. Fecit ergo populus, sicut erat dictum.
   14 A die autem illa, qua praeceperat rex mihi, ut essem dux in terra Iudae, ab anno vicesimo usque ad annum tricesimum secundum Artaxerxis regis, per annos duodecim ego et fratres mei annonas, quae ducibus debebantur, non comedimus.
   15 Duces autem priores, qui fuerant ante me, gravaverunt populum et acceperunt ab eis cotidie pro pane siclos argenti quadraginta; sed et ministri eorum depresserunt populum. Ego autem non feci ita propter timorem Dei,
   16 quin potius in opere muri restauravi et agrum non emi; et omnes pueri mei congregati ad opus erant.
   17 Iudaei quoque et magistratus, centum quinquaginta viri, et qui veniebant ad nos de gentibus, quae in circuitu nostro sunt, in mensa mea erant.
   18 Parabatur autem mihi per dies singulos bos unus, arietes sex electi, exceptis volatilibus; et inter dies decem vina diversa multa. Insuper et annonas ducatus mei non quaesivi; gravis enim erat servitus populi huius.
   19 Memento mei, Deus meus, in bonum, secundum omnia, quae feci populo huic.

Source: Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio, Sacrosanti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II, Ratione Habita, Iussu Pauli PP. VI Recognita, Auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II Promulgata, Editio Typica Altera

King James Version

   1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
   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.
   3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
   4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
   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.
   6 ¶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
   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.
   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.
   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?
   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.
   11 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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.