Nehemiah 5:8
Good News Translation
and said, "As far as we have been able, we have been buying back our Jewish relatives who had to sell themselves to foreigners. Now you are forcing your own relatives to sell themselves to you, their own people!" The leaders were silent and could find nothing to say.

New Revised Standard Version
and said to them, “As far as we were able, we have bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations; but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought back by us!” They were silent, and could not find a word to say.

Contemporary English Version
by saying, "We have tried to buy back all of our people who were sold into exile. But here you are, selling more of them for us to buy back!" The officials and leaders did not say a word, because they knew this was true.

New American Bible
saying to them: “As far as we were able, we bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to Gentiles; you, however, are selling your own kindred, to have them bought back by us.” They remained silent, for they could find no answer.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said to them: We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles: and will you then sell your brethren, for us to redeem them? And they held their peace, and found not what to answer.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And I said to them: We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles: and will you then sell your brethren, for us to redeem them? And they held their peace, and found not what to answer.

We after

Matthew 25:15,29 And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey. . . .

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath: not according to that which he hath not.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

redeemed

Leviticus 25:47-49 If the hand of a stranger or a sojourner grow strong among you, and thy brother being impoverished sell himself to him, or to any of his race: . . .

sell your

Exodus 21:16 He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of the guilt, shall be put to death.

Deuteronomy 24:7 If any man be found soliciting his brother of the children of Israel, and selling him shall take a price, he shall be put to death, and thou shalt take away the evil from the midst of thee.

shall they

Romans 14:15 For if, because of thy meat, thy brother be grieved, thou walkest not now according to charity. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ hath died?

held

Job 29:10 The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.

Job 32:15 They were afraid, and answered no more, and they left off speaking.

Matthew 22:12 And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? But he was silent.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law speaketh, it speaketh to them that are in the law: that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be made subject to God.

Context
Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed
7And my heart thought with myself: and I rebuked the nobles and magistrates, and said to them: Do you every one exact usury of your brethren? And I gathered together a great assembly against them, 8And I said to them: We, as you know, have redeemed according to our ability our brethren the Jews, that were sold to the Gentiles: and will you then sell your brethren, for us to redeem them? And they held their peace, and found not what to answer.9And I said to them: The thing you do is not good: why walk you not in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles our enemies?…
Cross References
Leviticus 25:48
After the sale he may be redeemed. He that will of his brethren shall redeem him:

Nehemiah 5:9
And I said to them: The thing you do is not good: why walk you not in the fear of our God, that we be not exposed to the reproaches of the Gentiles our enemies?

Nehemiah 5:7
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