1 And there was a great cry 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 up corn 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 buy corn, because of
the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the
king's tribute, 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 daughters are brought unto
bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and
vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and
the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I
set a great assembly 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 found
nothing to answer.
9 Also I said, It is not good that 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. And all the congregation said, Amen, and
praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their
governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and
thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my
brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15 But the former governors that had been before
me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine,
beside forty shekels 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 fifty of
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 one
ox and six
choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store 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.
