尼希米记 5
1 百姓和他们的妻大大呼号，埋怨他们的弟兄犹大人。
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 有的说：“我们和儿女人口众多，要去得粮食度命”；
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 有的说：“我们典了田地、葡萄园、房屋，要得粮食充饥”；
[Some] also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 有的说：“我们已经指着田地、葡萄园，借了钱给王纳税。
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.
5 我们的身体与我们弟兄的身体一样；我们的儿女与他们的儿女一般。现在我们将要使儿女作人的仆婢，我们的女儿已有为婢的；我们并无力拯救，因为我们的田地、葡萄园已经归了别人。”
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 我听见他们呼号说这些话，便甚发怒。
And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 我心里筹划，就斥责贵胄和官长说：“你们各人向弟兄取利！”于是我招聚大会攻击他们。
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 我对他们说：“我们尽力赎回我们弟兄，就是卖与外邦的犹大人；你们还要卖弟兄，使我们赎回来吗？”他们就静默不语，无话可答。
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 我又说：“你们所行的不善！你们行事不当敬畏我们的 神吗？不然，难免我们的仇敌外邦人毁谤我们。
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 我和我的弟兄与仆人也将银钱粮食借给百姓；我们大家都当免去利息。
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 如今我劝你们将他们的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园、房屋，并向他们所取的银钱、粮食、新酒，和油，百分之一的利息都归还他们。”
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 众人说：“我们必归还，不再向他们索要，必照你的话行。”我就召了祭司来，叫众人起誓，必照着所应许的而行。
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 我也抖着胸前的衣襟，说：“凡不成就这应许的，愿 神照样抖他离开家产和他劳碌得来的，直到抖空了。”会众都说：“阿们！”又赞美耶和华。百姓就照着所应许的去行。
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 自从我奉派作犹大地的省长，就是从亚达薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我与我弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。
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 在我以前的省长加重百姓的担子，每日索要粮食和酒，并银子四十舍客勒，就是他们的仆人也辖制百姓；但我因敬畏 神不这样行。
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 并且我恒心修造城墙，并没有置买田地；我的仆人也都聚集在那里做工。
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 除了从四围外邦中来的犹大人以外，有犹大平民和官长一百五十人在我席上吃饭。
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 每日预备一只公牛，六只肥羊，又预备些飞禽；每十日一次，多预备各样的酒。虽然如此，我并不要省长的俸禄，因为百姓服役甚重。
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 我的 神啊，求你记念我为这百姓所行的一切事，施恩与我。
Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people.
