Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

Nehemiah 5:15

FearIntegrityJusticeMoney and wealth

13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.

16 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

17 There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations.

Read the whole chapter

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God.
KJV
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.
WEB
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.
ASV
But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
DARBY
But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.
BLB
And the former governors who [were] before me laid burdens on the people, and they took from them bread and wine, besides silver, forty shekels. Also their servants ruled over the people, and I did not do so because of the fear of God.
ÅB
De forrige stattholdere, de som var før meg, falt folket til byrde og tok brød og vin av dem foruten førti sekel sølv, og endog deres tjenere trykket folket; men jeg gjorde ikke så, for jeg fryktet Gud.
OTB
Men de tidligere guvernørene som var før meg la tunge byrder på folket og tok fra dem førti sekel sølv i tillegg til brød og vin. Selv deres tjenere hersket over folket. Men jeg gjorde ikke det på grunn av min ærbødighet for Gud.
B1930
De forrige stattholdere, de som var før mig, falt folket til byrde og tok brød og vin av dem foruten firti sekel sølv, og endog deres tjenere trykket folket; men jeg gjorde ikke så, for jeg fryktet Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Nehemiah 5:9

    So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 50:10

    Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 16:6

    By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

    Read in context

  • 2 Corinthians 11:9

    And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.

    Read in context

  • Job 31:23

    For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 12:13–14

    When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 5:47

    And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

    Read in context

  • Psalms 147:11

    The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.

    Read in context