Nehemiah 5:10

10 I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

Nehemiah 5:10 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 5:10

I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of
them money and corn
For our maintenance, in consideration of the services done by us, which would appear but reasonable, but this we decline for the sake of easing our poor brethren:

I pray you let us leave off this usury;
and not exact it, as has been too much and too long used.

Nehemiah 5:10 In-Context

8 And I said to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? And they were silent and found no answer.

9 And I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies?

10 I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11 Restore, I pray you, to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive-gardens, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that ye have exacted of them.

12 And they said, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so will we do, as thou hast said. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.