5 And there was a great acry of the people and of their wives against their bbrethren 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 ctribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet 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. 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, gYe 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 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. 9 Also 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? 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 ltook an oath of them, mthat they should do according to this promise. 13 Also 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.

14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their rgovernor in the land of Judah, from the stwentieth year even unto the ttwo and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not ueaten the bread of the rgovernor. 15 But the former rgovernors 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 xthe 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 yat 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 zwhich 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 athe bread of the rgovernor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 bThink upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.