Nehemiah 9:37

37 And the fruits thereof be multiplied to (the) kings, which thou hast set upon us for our sins; and they be lords of our bodies, and of our beasts, by their will, and we be in great tribulation. (And its fruits be multiplied, but only unto the kings whom thou hast put upon us for our sins; and they be lords of us, and of our beasts, at their pleasure, and we be in great tribulation.)

Nehemiah 9:37 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 9:37

And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast
set over us, because of our sins
Though a very fruitful land, and brought forth much, yet not for them, but for foreign kings, that had the sovereignty over them, and enacted much toll, tribute, and custom from them, which greatly lessened the profit of the earth to them:

also they have dominion over our bodies;
and could oblige them to work for them, and do any service they should command:

and over our cattle, at their pleasure;
to carry burdens for them, or ride post with them:

and we are in great distress;
being servants and tributaries to a foreign power.

Nehemiah 9:37 In-Context

35 And they, in their good realms, and in thy much goodness which thou gavest to them, and in the full large land and fat, which thou haddest given in the sight of them, served not thee, neither turned again from their worst studies. (And they, in their kingdoms/with their kings, and in the great goodness, or prosperity, which thou gavest them, and in the very broad and fertile land, which thou gavest them, served thee not, nor turned away from their evil doings.)

36 Lo! we ourselves be thralls to day; and the land which thou gavest to our fathers, that they should eat the bread thereof, and the goods that be thereof, is thrall; and we ourselves be thralls, either bondmen, in that land. (Lo! we ourselves be slaves today, in the land which thou gavest to our forefathers, so that they could eat its bread, and enjoy its good things; yea, we ourselves be slaves, or bondsmen, here in this land.)

37 And the fruits thereof be multiplied to (the) kings, which thou hast set upon us for our sins; and they be lords of our bodies, and of our beasts, by their will, and we be in great tribulation. (And its fruits be multiplied, but only unto the kings whom thou hast put upon us for our sins; and they be lords of us, and of our beasts, at their pleasure, and we be in great tribulation.)

38 Therefore on all these things we ourselves smite and write (a) bond of peace, and our princes, our deacons, and our priests aseal (it). (And so for all these things, we hereby make a covenant in writing, and our leaders, and our Levites, and our priests, put their seals to it.)