Nehemiah 5:1–13

And there was a great ^acry of the people and of their wives against their ^bbrethren the Jews. ²For 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. ³Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. ⁴There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s ^ctribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. ⁵Yet now ^dour flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our ^esons and our ^fdaughters 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. ⁶And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. ⁷Then ^†I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, ^gYe exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. ⁸And I said unto them, We after our ability have ^hredeemed 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. ⁹Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk ⁱin the fear of our God ^kbecause of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? ¹⁰I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. ¹¹Restore, 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. ¹²Then 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 ^ltook an oath of them, ^mthat they should do according to this promise. ¹³Also I shook my ⁿlap, and said, So God ^oshake out every man from his house, and from his ^plabour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and ^†emptied. And all the congregation said, ^qAmen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.