6
I was very angry when I heard
1their outcry and these words.
7
I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them,
2"You are exacting interest, each from his brother." And I held a great assembly against them
8
and said to them, "We, as far as we are able,
3have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word to say.
9
So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk
4in the fear of our God
5to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
10
Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.
11
Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them."
12
Then they said, "We will restore these and
6require nothing from them. We will do as you say." And I called the priests and
7made them swear
8to do as they had promised.
13
9I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied."
10And all the assembly said "Amen" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.