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.