5
1 Then
there arose a
great cry of
the people and
of their wives against
their brothers the
Jews.
2 For
there were some
who said, “We, our
sons and our
daughters, are
many. Let us get
grain, that we
may eat and live.”
3 There
were also some who said, “We
are mortgaging our
fields, our
vineyards, and our
houses. Let us get
grain, because of
the famine.”
4 There
were also some
who said, “We have
borrowed money for
the king’s
tribute using our
fields and our
vineyards as collateral.
5 Yet
now our flesh
is as the
flesh of our
brothers, our
children as their
children. Behold,
we bring our
sons and our
daughters into
bondage to be
servants, and some
of our daughters
have been brought
into bondage. It
is also not
in our power
to help it,
because other men
have our fields
and our vineyards.”
6 I
was very angry
when I heard
their cry and
these words.
7 Then
I consulted with
myself, and
contended with the
nobles and the
rulers, and said
to them, “You
exact usury, everyone
of his brother.” I
held a great
assembly against
them.
8 I
said to them, “We, after our
ability, have
redeemed our brothers
the Jews that
were sold to
the nations; and
would you even
sell your brothers,
and should they be
sold to us?”
Then they held
their peace, and
found not a
word to say.
9 Also
I said, “The
thing that you
do is not
good. Shouldn’t you
walk in the
fear of our
God because of
the reproach of
the nations,
our enemies?
10 I
likewise, my brothers
and my servants,
lend them money
and grain. Please
let us stop this
usury.
11 Please
restore to them,
even today, their
fields, their
vineyards, their
olive groves, and
their houses, also
the hundredth part
of the money,
and of the
grain, the new
wine, and the
oil, that you
are charging them.”
12 Then
they said, “We
will restore them,
and will require
nothing of them.
We will do
so, even as
you say.”
Then I called
the priests, and
took an oath
of them, that
they would
do according to
this promise.
13 Also
I shook out
my lap, and
said, “So may
God shake out
every man from
his house, and
from his labor,
that doesn’t perform
this promise; even
may he be
shaken out and
emptied like this.”
All the assembly
said, “Amen,” and
praised the LORD.
The people did
according to this
promise.
14 Moreover
from the time
that I was
appointed to be
their governor in
the land of Judah,
from the twentieth
year even to
the thirty-second
year of Artaxerxes
the king, that
is, twelve years,
I and my brothers
have not eaten the
bread of the
governor.
15 But
the former
governors who were
before me were
supported by the
people, and took
bread and wine
from them, plus forty
shekels
of silver; yes,
even their
servants ruled over
the people, but
I didn’t do so,
because of the
fear of God.
16 Yes,
I also continued
in the work
of this wall.
We didn’t buy any
land. All my
servants were
gathered there to
the work.
17 Moreover
there were at
my table, of
the Jews and
the rulers, one
hundred fifty men,
in addition to
those who came to
us from among
the nations that
were around us.
18 Now
that which was
prepared for one
day was one
ox and six
choice sheep. Also
fowls were
prepared for me,
and once in
ten days a
store of all sorts
of wine. Yet
for all this,
I didn’t demand
the governor’s pay,
because the
bondage was heavy
on this people.
19 Remember
me, my God, for
all the good
that I have
done for this
people.