全新四年樂活讀經
經文: 尼希米記 5:7 我心裡籌劃，就斥責貴冑和官長說：「你們各人向弟兄取利！」於是我招聚大會攻擊他們。
默想: 尼希米帶領猶大人建造城牆所遭遇內部的問題，除了灰心喪志的人所講叫人洩氣的話以外，還有由於經濟困難所造成的借貸問題。有關借貸取利的議題，摩西在申命記教導以色列民，你借給你弟兄的，或是錢財或是糧食，無論什麼可生利的物，都不可取利。借給外邦人可以取利，只是借給你弟兄不可取利。這樣，耶和華你神必在你所去得為業的地上和你手裡所辦的一切事上賜福與你。(申23:19-20) 如此看來，借貸取利本身並沒有什麼錯誤，只是不可向遭遇困境的弟兄貸款取利。重建城牆時期的猶大人，就發生因為有弟兄之間遭遇困境，而在猶大人之間有借貸取利的事情，以致於遭遇困境的弟兄發出怨言。尼希米用自己的好榜樣與群眾的輿論壓力，來讓那些趁人之危圖利自己的猶大人願意改變這種行為。求主幫助我，對於遭遇困境的弟兄，會存憐憫的心，也會伸出援助的手。
題目: 尼希米對抱怨的猶太同胞說：「…你們不是應該敬畏上帝、去做應做的事嗎?…。」試想：我們是否有敬畏上帝的心、做該做的事？
5:1 百姓和他們的妻大大呼號，埋怨他們的弟兄猶大人。
Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren.
5:2 有的說：「我們和兒女人口眾多，要去得糧食度命」；
For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many; let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive."
5:3 有的說：「我們典了田地、葡萄園、房屋，要得糧食充飢」；
There were also those who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine."
5:4 有的說：「我們已經指著田地、葡萄園，借了錢給王納稅。
And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax upon our fields and our vineyards.
5:5 我們的身體與我們弟兄的身體一樣；我們的兒女與他們的兒女一般。現在我們將要使兒女作人的僕婢，我們的女兒已有為婢的；我們並無力拯救，因為我們的田地、葡萄園已經歸了別人。」
Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children are as their children; yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved; but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards."
5:6 我聽見他們呼號說這些話，便甚發怒。
I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
5:7 我心裡籌劃，就斥責貴冑和官長說：「你們各人向弟兄取利！」於是我招聚大會攻擊他們。
I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them,
5:8 我對他們說：「我們盡力贖回我們弟兄，就是賣與外邦的猶大人；你們還要賣弟兄，使我們贖回來嗎？」他們就靜默不語，無話可答。
and said to them, "We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brethren who have been sold to the nations; but you even sell your brethren that they may be sold to us!" They were silent, and could not find a word to say.
5:9 我又說：「你們所行的不善！你們行事不當敬畏我們的 神嗎？不然，難免我們的仇敵外邦人毀謗我們。
So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
5:10 我和我的弟兄與僕人也將銀錢糧食借給百姓；我們大家都當免去利息。
Moreover I and my brethren and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us leave off this interest.
5:11 如今我勸你們將他們的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園、房屋，並向他們所取的銀錢、糧食、新酒，和油，百分之一的利息都歸還他們。」
Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the hundredth of money, grain, wine, and oil which you have been exacting of them."
5:12 眾人說：「我們必歸還，不再向他們索要，必照你的話行。」我就召了祭司來，叫眾人起誓，必照著所應許的而行。
Then they said, "We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests, and took an oath of them to do as they had promised.
5:13 我也抖著胸前的衣襟，說：「凡不成就這應許的，願 神照樣抖他離開家產和他勞碌得來的，直到抖空了。」會眾都說：「阿們！」又讚美耶和華。百姓就照著所應許的去行。
I also shook out my lap and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
5:14 自從我奉派作猶大地的省長，就是從亞達薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我與我弟兄都沒有吃省長的俸祿。
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx'es the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brethren ate the food allowance of the governor.
5:15 在我以前的省長加重百姓的擔子，每日索要糧食和酒，並銀子四十舍客勒，就是他們的僕人也轄制百姓；但我因敬畏 神不這樣行。
The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens upon the people, and took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
5:16 並且我恆心修造城牆，並沒有置買田地；我的僕人也都聚集在那裡做工。
I also held to the work on this wall, and acquired no land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
5:17 除了從四圍外邦中來的猶大人以外，有猶大平民和官長一百五十人在我席上吃飯。
Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations which were about us.
5:18 每日預備一隻公牛，六隻肥羊，又預備些飛禽；每十日一次，多預備各樣的酒。雖然如此，我並不要省長的俸祿，因為百姓服役甚重。
Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; fowls likewise were prepared for me, and every ten days skins of wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the servitude was heavy upon this people.
5:19 我的 神啊，求你記念我為這百姓所行的一切事，施恩與我。
Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
今日心得上傳及閱讀請到
1. 蔡茂堂牧師blog: http://hopingtsaidevotion.blogspot.com/
2. 李晶晶牧師blog: http://taipeihoping-chin.blogspot.com/
蔡茂堂牧師創世記查經班歷年錄音檔案:
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