Nehemiæ 5
1 Et factus est clamor populi, et uxorum eius magnus adversus fratres suos Iudaeos.
Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 Et erant qui dicerent: Filii nostri, et filiae nostrae multae sunt nimis: accipiamus pro pretio eorum frumentum, et comedamus, et vivamus.
For there were that said: 'We, our sons and our daughters, are many; let us get for them corn, that we may eat and live.'
3 Et erant qui dicerent: Agros nostros, et vineas, et domus nostras opponamus, et accipiamus frumentum in fame.
Some also there were that said: 'We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses; let us get corn, because of the dearth.'
4 Et alii dicebant: Mutuo sumamus pecunias in tributa regis, demusque agros nostros et vineas:
There were also that said: 'We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
5 et nunc sicut carnes fratrum nostrorum, sic carnes nostrae sunt: et sicut filii eorum, ita et filii nostri. ecce nos subiugamus filios nostros, et filias nostras in servitutem, et de filiabus nostris sunt famulae, nec habemus unde possint redimi, et agros nostros et vineas nostras alii possident.
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 into bondage already; neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.'
6 Et iratus sum nimis cum audissem clamorem eorum secundum verba haec:
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 cogitavitque cor meum mecum: et increpavi optimates et magistratus, et dixi eis: Usurasne singuli a fratribus vestris exigitis? Et congregavi adversum eos concionem magnam,
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them: 'Ye lend upon pledge, every one to his brother.' And I held a great assembly against them.
8 et dixi eis: Nos, ut scitis, redemimus fratres nostros Iudaeos, qui venditi fuerant gentibus secundum possibilitatem nostram: et vos igitur vendetis fratres vestros, et redimemus eos? Et siluerunt, nec invenerunt quid responderent.
And I said unto them: 'We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that sold themselves unto the heathen; and would ye nevertheless sell your brethren, and should they sell themselves unto us?' Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
9 Dixique ad eos: Non est bona res, quam facitis: quare non in timore Dei nostri ambulastis, ne exprobretur nobis a gentibus inimicis nostris?
Also I said: 'The thing that ye do is not good; ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10 Et ego, et fratres mei, et pueri mei commodavimus plurimis pecuniam et frumentum: non repetamus in commune istud, aes alienum concedamus, quod debetur nobis.
And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this exaction.
11 Reddite eis hodie agros suos, et vineas suas, et oliveta sua, et domos suas: quin potius et centesimum pecuniae, frumenti, vini et olei, quam exigere soletis ab eis, date pro illis.
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundred pieces of silver, and the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.'
12 Et dixerunt: Reddemus, et ab eis nihil quaeremus: sicque faciemus ut loqueris. Et vocavi Sacerdotes, et adiuravi eos, ut facerent iuxta quod dixeram.
Then said they: 'We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest.' Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
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.
Also I shook out 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 A die autem illa, qua praeceperat rex mihi ut essem dux in terra Iuda, ab anno vigesimo usque ad annum trigesimum secundum Artaxerxis regis per annos duodecim, ego et fratres mei annonas, quae ducibus debebantur, non comedimus.
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 Duces autem primi, qui fuerant ante me, gravaverunt populum, et acceperunt ab eis in pane, et vino, et pecunia quotidie siclos quadraginta: sed et ministri eorum depresserunt populum. Ego autem non feci ita propter timorem Dei:
But the former governors that were before me laid burdens upon the people, and took of them for bread and wine above forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants lorded over the people; but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16 quin potius in opere muri aedificavi, et agrum non emi, et omnes pueri mei congregati ad opus erant.
Yea, also I set hand to the work of this wall, neither bought we any land; and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17 Iudaei quoque et magistratus centum quinquaginta viri, et qui veniebant ad nos de gentibus, quae in circuitu nostro sunt, in mensa mea erant.
Moreover there were at my table of the Jews and the rulers a hundred and fifty men, beside those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.
18 Parabatur autem mihi per dies singulos bos unus, arietes sex electi, exceptis volatilibus, et inter dies decem vina diversa, et alia multa tribuebam: insuper et annonas ducatus mei non quaesivi: valde enim attenuatus erat populus.
Now that which was prepared for one day 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 I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the service was heavy upon this people.
19 Memento mei Deus meus in bonum secundum omnia, quae feci populo huic.
Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
