Nehemiah 5 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Nehemiah 6

¹Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),

KJVNow it came to pass, when Sanballat^H5571, and Tobiah^H2900, and Geshem^H1654 the Arabian^H6163, and the rest^H3499 of our enemies^H341^(H8802), heard^H8085^(H8738) that I had builded^H1129^(H8804) the wall^H2346, and that there was no breach^H6556 left^H3498^(H8738) therein;(though^H1571^H5704 at that time^H6256 I had not set up^H5975^(H8689) the doors^H1817 upon the gates^H8179;)

² Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.

KJVThat Sanballat^H5571 and Geshem^H1654 sent^H7971^(H8799) unto me, saying^H559^(H8800), Come^H3212^(H8798), let us meet^H3259^(H8735) together^H3162 in some one of the villages^H3715 in the plain^H1237 of Ono^H207. But they thought^H2803^(H8802) to do^H6213^(H8800) me mischief^H7451.

³ I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?”

KJVAnd I sent^H7971^(H8799) messengers^H4397 unto them, saying^H559^(H8800), I am doing^H6213^(H8802) a great^H1419 work^H4399, so that I cannot^H3201^(H8799) come down^H3381^(H8800): why should the work^H4399 cease^H7673^(H8799), whilst^H834 I leave^H7503^(H8686) it, and come down^H3381^(H8804) to you?

⁴ They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way.

KJVYet they sent^H7971^(H8799) unto me four^H702 times^H6471 after this sort^H1697; and I answered^H7725^(H8686) them after the same manner^H1697.

⁵ Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,

KJVThen sent^H7971^(H8799) Sanballat^H5571 his servant^H5288 unto me in like manner^H1697 the fifth^H2549 time^H6471 with an open^H6605^(H8803) letter^H107 in his hand^H3027;

⁶ in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.

KJVWherein was written^H3789^(H8803), It is reported^H8085^(H8738) among the heathen^H1471, and Gashmu^H1654 saith^H559^(H8802) it, that thou and the Jews^H3064 think^H2803^(H8802) to rebel^H4775^(H8800): for which cause^H3651 thou buildest^H1129^(H8802) the wall^H2346, that thou mayest be^H1933^(H8802) their king^H4428, according to these words^H1697.

⁷ You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let’s take counsel together.”

KJVAnd thou hast also appointed^H5975^(H8689) prophets^H5030 to preach^H7121^(H8800) of thee at Jerusalem^H3389, saying^H559^(H8800), There is a king^H4428 in Judah^H3063: and now shall it be reported^H8085^(H8735) to the king^H4428 according to these words^H1697. Come^H3212^(H8798) now therefore, and let us take counsel^H3289^(H8735) together^H3162.

⁸ Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

KJVThen I sent^H7971^(H8799) unto him, saying^H559^(H8800), There are^H1961 no such things^H1697 done^H1961^(H8738) as thou sayest^H559^(H8802), but thou feignest^H908^(H8802) them out of thine own heart^H3820.

⁹ For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.

KJVFor they all made us afraid^H3372^(H8764), saying^H559^(H8800), Their hands^H3027 shall be weakened^H7503^(H8799) from the work^H4399, that it be not done^H6213^(H8735). Now therefore, O God, strengthen^H2388^(H8761) my hands^H3027.

¹⁰ I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let’s shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night they will come to kill you.”

KJVAfterward I came^H935^(H8804) unto the house^H1004 of Shemaiah^H8098 the son^H1121 of Delaiah^H1806 the son^H1121 of Mehetabeel^H4105, who was shut up^H6113^(H8803); and he said^H559^(H8799), Let us meet together^H3259^(H8735) in the house^H1004 of God^H430, within^H8432 the temple^H1964, and let us shut^H5462^(H8799) the doors^H1817 of the temple^H1964: for they will come^H935^(H8802) to slay^H2026^(H8800) thee; yea, in the night^H3915 will they come^H935^(H8802) to slay^H2026^(H8800) thee.

¹¹ I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

KJVAnd I said^H559^(H8799), Should such^H3644 a man^H376 as I flee^H1272^(H8799)? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go^H935^(H8799) into the temple^H1964 to save his life^H2425^(H8804)? I will not go in^H935^(H8799).

¹² I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him, but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

KJVAnd, lo, I perceived^H5234^(H8686) that God^H430 had not sent^H7971^(H8804) him; but that he pronounced^H1696^(H8765) this prophecy^H5016 against me: for Tobiah^H2900 and Sanballat^H5571 had hired^H7936^(H8804) him.

¹³ He was hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.

KJVTherefore was he hired^H7936^(H8803), that I should be afraid^H3372^(H8799), and do so^H6213^(H8799), and sin^H2398^(H8804), and that they might have matter for an evil^H7451 report^H8034, that they might reproach^H2778^(H8762) me.

¹⁴ “Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.”

KJVMy God^H430, think^H2142^(H8798) thou upon Tobiah^H2900 and Sanballat^H5571 according to these their works^H4639, and on the prophetess^H5031 Noadiah^H5129, and the rest^H3499 of the prophets^H5030, that would have put me in fear^H3372^(H8764).

¹⁵ So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.

KJVSo the wall^H2346 was finished^H7999^(H8799) in the twenty^H6242 and fifth^H2568 day of the month Elul^H435, in fifty^H2572 and two^H8147 days^H3117.

¹⁶ When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

KJVAnd it came to pass, that when all our enemies^H341^(H8802) heard^H8085^(H8804) thereof, and all the heathen^H1471 that were about us^H5439 saw^H7200^(H8799) these things, they were much^H3966 cast down^H5307^(H8799) in their own eyes^H5869: for they perceived^H3045^(H8799) that this work^H4399 was wrought^H6213^(H8738) of our God^H430.

¹⁷ Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.

KJVMoreover in those days^H3117 the nobles^H2715 of Judah^H3063 sent^H1980^(H8802) many^H7235^(H8688) letters^H107 unto Tobiah^H2900, and the letters of Tobiah^H2900 came^H935^(H8802) unto them.

¹⁸ For there were many in Judah sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.

KJVFor there were many^H7227 in Judah^H3063 sworn^H1167^H7621 unto him, because he was the son in law^H2860 of Shechaniah^H7935 the son^H1121 of Arah^H733; and his son^H1121 Johanan^H3076 had taken^H3947^(H8804) the daughter^H1323 of Meshullam^H4918 the son^H1121 of Berechiah^H1296.

¹⁹ Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

KJVAlso they reported^H559^(H8802) his good deeds^H2896 before^H6440 me, and uttered^H3318^(H8688) my words^H1697 to him. And Tobiah^H2900 sent^H7971^(H8804) letters^H107 to put me in fear^H3372^(H8763).

WEB·Nehemiah 5

¹Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

KJVAnd there was a great^H1419 cry^H6818 of the people^H5971 and of their wives^H802 against their brethren^H251 the Jews^H3064.

² For there were some who said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”

KJVFor there were^H3426 that said^H559^(H8802), We, our sons^H1121, and our daughters^H1323, are many^H7227: therefore we take up^H3947^(H8799) corn^H1715 for them, that we may eat^H398^(H8799), and live^H2421^(H8799).

³ There were also some who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”

KJVSome also there were^H3426 that said^H559^(H8802), We have mortgaged^H6148^(H8802) our lands^H7704, vineyards^H3754, and houses^H1004, that we might buy^H3947^(H8799) corn^H1715, because of the dearth^H7458.

⁴ There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.

KJVThere were^H3426 also that said^H559^(H8802), We have borrowed^H3867^(H8804) money^H3701 for the king's^H4428 tribute^H4060, and that upon our lands^H7704 and vineyards^H3754.

⁵ Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

KJVYet now our flesh^H1320 is as the flesh^H1320 of our brethren^H251, our children^H1121 as their children^H1121: and, lo, we bring into bondage^H3533^(H8802) our sons^H1121 and our daughters^H1323 to be servants^H5650, and some of our daughters^H1323 are^H3426 brought unto bondage^H3533^(H8737) already: neither is it in our power^H410^H3027 to redeem them; for other men^H312 have our lands^H7704 and vineyards^H3754.

⁶ I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

KJVAnd I was very^H3966 angry^H2734^(H8799) when I heard^H8085^(H8804) their cry^H2201 and these words^H1697.

⁷ Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

KJVThen I consulted^H4427^(H8735) with myself^H3820, and I rebuked^H7378^(H8799) the nobles^H2715, and the rulers^H5461, and said^H559^(H8799) unto them, Ye exact^H5378^(H8801)^(H8678)^H5383^(H8802)^(H8675)^H5375^(H8802) usury^H4855, every one^H376 of his brother^H251. And I set^H5414^(H8799) a great^H1419 assembly^H6952 against them.

⁸ I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.

KJVAnd I said^H559^(H8799) unto them, We after our ability^H1767 have redeemed^H7069^(H8804) our brethren^H251 the Jews^H3064, which were sold^H4376^(H8737) unto the heathen^H1471; and will ye even sell^H4376^(H8799) your brethren^H251? or shall they be sold^H4376^(H8738) unto us? Then held they their peace^H2790^(H8686), and found^H4672^(H8804) nothing^H1697 to answer.

⁹ Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

KJVAlso I said^H559^(H8799), It is not good^H2896 that^H1697 ye do^H6213^(H8802): ought ye not to walk^H3212^(H8799) in the fear^H3374 of our God^H430 because of the reproach^H2781 of the heathen^H1471 our enemies^H341^(H8802)?

¹⁰ I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.

KJVI likewise, and my brethren^H251, and my servants^H5288, might exact^H5383^(H8802) of them money^H3701 and corn^H1715: I pray you, let us leave off^H5800^(H8799) this usury^H4855.

¹¹ Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.”

KJVRestore^H7725^(H8685), I pray you, to them, even this day^H3117, their lands^H7704, their vineyards^H3754, their oliveyards^H2132, and their houses^H1004, also the hundredth^H3967 part of the money^H3701, and of the corn^H1715, the wine^H8492, and the oil^H3323, that ye exact^H5383^(H8802) of them.

¹² Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.

KJVThen said^H559^(H8799) they, We will restore^H7725^(H8686) them, and will require^H1245^(H8762) nothing of them; so will we do^H6213^(H8799) as thou sayest^H559^(H8802). Then I called^H7121^(H8799) the priests^H3548, and took an oath^H7650^(H8686) of them, that they should do^H6213^(H8800) according to this promise^H1697.

¹³ Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.

KJVAlso I shook^H5287^(H8804) my lap^H2684, and said^H559^(H8799), So God^H430 shake out^H5287^(H8762) every man^H376 from his house^H1004, and from his labour^H3018, that performeth^H6965^(H8686) not this promise^H1697, even thus be he shaken out^H5287^(H8803), and emptied^H7386. And all the congregation^H6951 said^H559^(H8799), Amen^H543, and praised^H1984^(H8762) the LORD^H3068. And the people^H5971 did^H6213^(H8799) according to this promise^H1697.

¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.

KJVMoreover from the time^H3117 that I was appointed^H6680^(H8765) to be their governor^H6346 in the land^H776 of Judah^H3063, from the twentieth^H6242 year^H8141 even unto the two^H8147 and thirtieth^H7970 year^H8141 of Artaxerxes^H783 the king^H4428, that is, twelve^H8147^H6240 years^H8141, I and my brethren^H251 have not eaten^H398^(H8804) the bread^H3899 of the governor^H6346.

¹⁵ But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.

KJVBut the former^H7223 governors^H6346 that had been before^H6440 me were chargeable^H3513^(H8689) unto the people^H5971, and had taken^H3947^(H8799) of them bread^H3899 and wine^H3196, beside^H310 forty^H705 shekels^H8255 of silver^H3701; yea, even^H1571 their servants^H5288 bare rule^H7980^(H8804) over the people^H5971: but so did^H6213^(H8804) not I, because^H6440 of the fear^H3374 of God^H430.

¹⁶ Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work.

KJVYea, also I continued^H2388^(H8689) in the work^H4399 of this wall^H2346, neither bought^H7069^(H8804) we any land^H7704: and all my servants^H5288 were gathered^H6908^(H8803) thither unto the work^H4399.

¹⁷ Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, in addition to those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.

KJVMoreover there were at my table^H7979 an hundred^H3967 and fifty^H2572^H376 of the Jews^H3064 and rulers^H5461, beside those that came^H935^(H8802) unto us from among the heathen^H1471 that are about us^H5439.

¹⁸ 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 a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn’t demand the governor’s pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people.

KJVNow that which was prepared^H6213^(H8737) for me daily^H3117 was one^H259 ox^H7794 and six^H8337 choice^H1305^(H8803) sheep^H6629; also fowls^H6833 were prepared^H6213^(H8738) for me, and once in ten^H6235 days^H3117 store^H7235^(H8687) of all sorts of wine^H3196: yet for all^H5973 this required^H1245^(H8765) not I the bread^H3899 of the governor^H6346, because the bondage^H5656 was heavy^H3513^(H8804) upon this people^H5971.

¹⁹ Remember me, my God, for all the good that I have done for this people.

KJVThink^H2142^(H8798) upon me, my God^H430, for good^H2896, according to all that I have done^H6213^(H8804) for this people^H5971.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

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