Nehemías 5

1 Entonces hubo un gran clamor del pueblo y de sus mujeres contra sus hermanos judíos,

And there occurred a great outcry of the people and their wives against their brothers, the Jews.

2 porque algunos decían: Nosotros, nuestros hijos e hijas somos muchos, y necesitamos grano para comer y vivir.

And there were those who were saying: “Our sons and our daughters are very many. Let us receive grain as a price for them, and then we may eat and live.”

3 Y algunos decían: Empeñamos nuestros campos, viñas y casas para obtener grano durante la hambruna.

And there were those who were saying: “Let us offer up our fields and vineyards, and our houses, and then we may receive grain during the famine.”

4 Otros decían: Tomamos dinero prestado para el tributo del rey y ofrecimos la garantía de nuestros campos y viñedos.

And others were saying: “Let us borrow money for the tribute of the king, and let us surrender our fields and vineyards.”

5 Ahora bien, nuestra carne es como la carne de nuestros hermanos, sus hijos como nuestros hijos, y así sometemos a esclavitud a nuestros hijos e hijas. Hay hijas nuestras ya esclavizadas, sin que nosotros podamos rescatarlas, puesto que nuestros campos y viñas ya son de otros.

“And now, as is the flesh of our brothers, so is our flesh; and as are their sons, so also are our sons. Behold, we have subjugated our sons and our daughters into servitude, and some of our daughters are slaves, nor do we have the ability to redeem them, for others possess our fields and our vineyards.”

6 Cuando escuché su clamor y esas palabras me airé muchísimo.

And when I had heard their outcry in these words, I was exceedingly angry.

7 Mi corazón se turbó dentro de mí. Reprendí a los jefes y los oficiales: ¿Ustedes cobran interés, cada uno a su hermano? Y convoqué a una gran asamblea contra ellos

And my heart considered within me. And I rebuked the nobles and the magistrates, and I said to them, “Have you each been exacting usury from your brothers?” And I gathered together a great assembly against them.

8 y les dije: Nosotros, según nuestras posibilidades, rescatamos a nuestros hermanos judíos que tuvieron que venderse a los gentiles, y ustedes, ¿venderán a sus hermanos después de ser rescatados por nosotros? Y ellos callaron, porque no hallaron respuesta.

And I said to them: “As you know, in accord with what was possible for us, we have redeemed our brothers, the Jews, who had been sold to the Gentiles. And yet you now sell your brothers, and we must redeem them?” And they were silent, nor did they find anything to answer.

9 Y agregué: No es bueno lo que hacen. ¿No deberían andar con el temor de nuestro ʼElohim, a causa del oprobio de nuestros enemigos gentiles?

And I said to them: “The thing that you are doing is not good. Why are you not walking in the fear of our God, so that there may be no reproach against us from our enemies, the Gentiles?

10 También yo, mis hermanos y mis esclavos les prestamos dinero y grano. ¡Renunciamos ahora a esta usura!

Both I and my brothers, with my servants, have lent money and grain to many. Let us agree not to ask for its return. Let us forgive the other money that is owed to us.

11 Les ruego que les devuelvan hoy sus campos, viñas, olivares y casas. Renuncien al interés que les demandan por el dinero, el grano, el vino nuevo y el aceite.

On this day, restore their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive groves, and their houses to them. Then, too, the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, wine, and oil, which you usually exact from them, give it to them.”

12 Entonces respondieron: Lo devolveremos y ya no lo requeriremos. Haremos así como tú dices. Entonces convoqué a los sacerdotes y les hice jurar que harían según esta promesa.

And they said: “We will restore it, and we will require nothing from them. And we will do just as you say.” And I called the priests, and I had them swear an oath, so that they would act in accord with what I had said.

13 Sacudí mi ropa y dije: ¡Así sacuda ʼElohim de su Templo y de su beneficio a todo aquel que no cumpla esta promesa! ¡Así sea sacudido y vaciado! Y toda la congregación respondió: ¡Amén! Y alabaron a Yavé. El pueblo hizo según esta promesa.

Moreover, I shook out my lap, and I said: “So may God shake out every man, who does not fulfill this word. From his house and from his labors, so may he be shaken out and become empty.” And the entire multitude said, “Amen.” And they praised God. Therefore, the people acted in accord with what was said.

14 Además, desde el día cuando fui designado gobernador de ellos en la tierra de Judá, desde el año 20 hasta el año 32 del rey Artajerjes, esto es, 12 años, ni yo ni mis hermanos comimos el pan correspondiente al gobernador.

Now from that day, on which the king had ordered me to be governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of king Artaxerxes, for twelve years, I and my brothers did not eat the yearly allowance that was owed to the governors.

15 Y aunque los gobernadores que fueron antes de mí subyugaban al pueblo y les cobraban más de 4,4 kilogramos de plata por el pan y el vino, y aun sus esclavos oprimían al pueblo, yo no hice así a causa del temor a ʼElohim.

But the former governors, the ones who had been before me, were a burden to the people, and they took from them bread and wine, and forty shekels of money each day. And their officials also oppressed the people. But I did not do so, out of fear of God.

16 En cambio, tomé parte en la obra de este muro. No adquirí algún campo, y todos mis esclavos estuvieron reunidos para la obra.

In fact, I preferred to build in the work of the wall, and I bought no land, and all my servants were gathered to do the work.

17 Además de los judíos y los oficiales, había en mi mesa 150 hombres, sin contar los que venían a nosotros de los países vecinos.

Likewise, the Jews and the magistrates, one hundred and fifty men, were at my table, with those who came to us from among the Gentiles that are around us.

18 Lo que se preparaba para un solo día era un buey y seis ovejas escogidas. También me preparaban aves, y una vez cada diez días toda clase de vinos. A pesar de todo esto, nunca exigí el pan correspondiente al gobernador, porque el trabajo era pesado para este pueblo.

Now there was prepared for me, on each day, one ox and six choice rams, along with poultry. And once every ten days, I distributed diverse wines and many other things. Yet I did not require my yearly allowance as governor. For the people were greatly impoverished.

19 Acuérdate de mí para bien, oh ʼElohim mío, a causa de todo lo que hice por este pueblo.

Remember me, O my God, for good, in accord with all that I have done for this people.