Nehemiah 5:1–8

¹And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. ²And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live. ³And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth. ⁴And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and vineyards; ⁵yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already; neither is it in the power of our hand to redeem them, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.

⁶And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. ⁷And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them. ⁸And 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.