 1 There was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. 2 For certain ones said, We, our sons and our daughters are many. Let us get grain for them, so that we may eat and live. 3 Some also said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses. Let us buy grain because of the famine. 4 And some said, We have borrowed money on our lands and vineyards for the king's tax. 5 Yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers. Our children like their children, and we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants. Some of our daughters are brought into bondage. It is not within our ability+ to redeem them for other men have our lands and vineyards. 6 I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 My heart within myself ruled, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, you exact interest, each one from his brother. And I held a great gathering against them. 8 I said to them, According to our ability we have redeemed our brothers, the Jews who were sold to the nations. And will you even sell your brothers? Or will they be sold to us? They were silent and did not find an answer. 9 I said, What you do is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? 10 Also I, my brothers and my servants, might take from them silver and grain. Please let us leave this lending at interest. 11 Please even today give back to them their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that you take from them. 12 They said, We will restore, and will ask nothing from them. So we will do as you say. Then I called the priests and took an oath from them that they should do according to this promise. 13 I shook my lap and said, Let God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise, even may he be shaken out this way and emptied. Then all the congregation said, Amen and praised the Lord and the people did according to this promise. 14 From the time that I was chosen to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15 But the former governors that had been before me were too heavy upon the people, and had taken bread and wine from them, besides 40 shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not do this, because of the fear of God. 16 I also kept on in the work of this wall. Nor did we buy any land. All my servants gathered there to the work. 17 At my table were 150 of the Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from among the nations around us. 18 What was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Birds were also prepared. Once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did not seek the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think upon me for good, my God, according to all that I have done for this people.
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