6 And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words, 7 and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, 'Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly, 8 and say to them, 'We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that 'is' in us, and ye also sell your brethren, and they have been sold to us!' and they are silent, and have not found a word. 9 And I say, 'Not good 'is' the thing that ye are doing; in the fear of our God do ye not walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? 10 And also, I, my brethren, and my servants, are exacting of them silver and corn; let us leave off, I pray you, this usury. 11 Give back, I pray you, to them, as to-day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, and the hundredth 'part' of the money, and of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil, that ye are exacting of them.' 12 And they say, 'We give back, and of them we seek nothing; so we do as thou art saying.' And I call the priests, and cause them to swear to do according to this thing; 13 also, my lap I have shaken, and I say, 'Thus doth God shake out every man, who doth not perform this thing, from his house, and from his labour; yea, thus is he shaken out and empty;' and all the assembly say, 'Amen,' and praise Jehovah; and the people do according to this thing.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 5:6-13
Commentary on Nehemiah 5:6-13
(Read Nehemiah 5:6-13)
Nehemiah knew that, if he built Jerusalem's walls ever so high, so thick, or so strong, the city could not be safe while there were abuses. The right way to reform men's lives, is to convince their consciences. If you walk in the fear of God, you will not be either covetous of worldly gain, or cruel toward your brethren. Nothing exposes religion more to reproach, than the worldliness and hard-heartedness of the professors of it. Those that rigorously insist upon their right, with a very ill grace try to persuade others to give up theirs. In reasoning with selfish people, it is good to contrast their conduct with that of others who are liberal; but it is best to point to His example, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich, 2 Corinthians 8:9. They did according to promise. Good promises are good things, but good performances are better.