1
And there was a greatcry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2
For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take upcorn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3
Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands,vineyards, and houses, that we might buycorn, because of the dearth.
4
There were also that said, We have borrowedmoney for the king'stribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughtersare brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our powerto redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6
And I was veryangry when I heard their cry and these words.
7
Then I consulted[a] with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact#st05383usury, every one of his brother. And I set a greatassembly against them.
8
And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and foundnothing to answer.
9
Also I said, It is not goodthat ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10
I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12
Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13
Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.[b] And all the congregationsaid, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the peopledid according to this promise.
14
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentiethyear even unto the two and thirtiethyear of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve*years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15
But the formergovernors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine,besidefortyshekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17
Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fiftyof the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18
Now that which was prepared for me daily was oneox and sixchoicesheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in tendaysstore of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19
Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.