Nehemiah 5:1–8

Social Injustice

5There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. ²Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” ³Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.” ^y4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax ^zon our fields and vineyards. ^a5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. ^bSome of our daughters are already enslaved, ^cbut we are powerless ^dbecause our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

⁶I became extremely angry ^ewhen I heard their outcry and these complaints. ⁷After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.” ^fSo I called a large assembly against them ⁸and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.” ^gThey remained silent and could not say a word. ^h