1 A nd there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

Now there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren.

2 A nd there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.

For some said, We, our sons and daughters, are many; therefore allow us to take grain, that we may eat and live! If we are not given grain, let us take it!

3 A nd there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.

Also some said, We are mortgaging our lands, vineyards, and houses to buy grain because of the scarcity.

4 A nd there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;

Others said, We have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king’s heavy tax.

5 y et now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage; neither is it in the power of our hand, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.

Although our flesh is the same as that of our brethren and our children are as theirs, yet we are forced to sell our children as slaves; some of our daughters have already been thus sold, and we are powerless to redeem them, for others have our lands and vineyards.

6 A nd I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

7 A nd I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them.

I thought it over and then rebuked the nobles and officials. I told them, You are exacting interest from your own kinsmen. And I held a great assembly against them.

8 A nd I said to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? And they were silent and found no answer.

I said to them, We, according to our ability, have bought back our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations; but will you even sell your brethren, that they may be sold to us? Then they were silent and found not a word to say.

9 A nd I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies?

Also I said, What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts and reproach of the nations, our enemies?

10 I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

I, my brethren, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this forbidden interest!

11 R estore, I pray you, to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive-gardens, and their houses, also the hundredth of the money, and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that ye have exacted of them.

Return this very day to them their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, and also a hundredth of all the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have exacted from them.

12 A nd they said, We will restore, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, as thou hast said. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

Then they said, We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say. Then I called the priests and took an oath of the lenders that they would do according to this promise.

13 A lso I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house and from his earnings, that performeth not this promise: even thus be he shaken out and emptied! And all the congregation said, Amen! And they praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.

I shook out my lap and said, So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise! So may he be shaken out and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.

14 M oreover 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, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Also, in the twelve years after I was appointed to be their governor in Judah, from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, neither I nor my kin ate the food allowed to the governor.

15 B ut the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.

But the former governors lived at the expense of the people and took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants assumed authority over the people. But I did not so because of my fear of God.

16 Y ea, also I applied myself to this work of the wall, and we bought no fields; and all my servants were gathered thither for the work.

I also held fast to the work on this wall; and we bought no land. And all my servants were gathered there for the work.

17 A nd there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers, besides those that came to us from among the nations that were about us.

And there were at my table 150 Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations about us.

18 A nd that which was prepared daily was one ox six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days all sorts of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor; for the service was heavy upon this people.

Now these were prepared for each day: 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 did not demand the food allowed me as governor, for the bondage was heavy upon this people.

19 R emember for me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

O my God, remember me for good for all I have done for this people.