1 ¶ Then there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren, the Jews.

And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews,

2 F or there were some that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many; therefore we have bought grain that we may eat and live.

yea, there are who are saying, `Our sons, and our daughters, we -- are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'

3 T here were also some that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.

And there are who are saying, `Our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, we are pledging, and we receive corn for the famine.'

4 A nd there were some that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

And there are who are saying, `We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, our fields, and our vineyards;

5 Y et now, given that the flesh of our brethren is as our flesh and their sons as our sons, behold, we subject our sons and our daughters to slavery, and there are some of our daughters in bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

and now, as the flesh of our brethren our flesh, as their sons our sons, and lo, we are subduing our sons and our daughters for servants, and there are of our daughters subdued, and our hand hath no might, and our fields and our vineyards to others.'

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

And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

7 T hen I meditated unto myself, and I rebuked the principals and the rulers and said unto them, Does each one of you exact usury of his brother? And I set a great assembly against them.

and my heart reigneth over me, and I strive with the freemen, and with the prefects, and say to them, `Usury one upon another ye are exacting;' and I set against them a great assembly,

8 A nd I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren, the Jews who had been sold unto the Gentiles; and will ye even sell your brethren? And shall they be sold unto us? Then they remained silent, for they had nothing to answer.

and say to them, `We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that in us, and ye also sell your brethren, and they have been sold to us!' and they are silent, and have not found a word.

9 A lso I said, What you do is not good, do you not walk in the fear of our God, that ye not be the reproach of our enemies the Gentiles?

And I say, `Not good the thing that ye are doing; in the fear of our God do ye not walk, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

10 I , likewise, and my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and grain; let us now release them from this burden.

And also, I, my brethren, and my servants, are exacting of them silver and corn; let us leave off, I pray you, this usury.

11 R estore, I pray you, to them, today, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and even the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

Give back, I pray you, to them, as to-day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, and the hundredth of the money, and of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil, that ye are exacting of them.'

12 T hen they said, We will return it and will require nothing of them; so we will do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests and caused them to sware that they should do according to this promise.

And they say, `We give back, and of them we seek nothing; so we do as thou art saying.' And I call the priests, and cause them to swear to do according to this thing;

13 A lso I shook my lap and said, Thus will God shake out each man from his house and from his labour, that does not perform this promise, even thus shall he be shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

also, my lap I have shaken, and I say, `Thus doth God shake out every man, who doth not perform this thing, from his house, and from his labour; yea, thus is he shaken out and empty;' and all the assembly say, `Amen,' and praise Jehovah; and the people do according to this thing.

14 ¶ Moreover, from the day that I was appointed by the king to be their captain in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the captain.

Also, from the day that he appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes the king -- twelve years -- I, and my brethren, the bread of the governor have not eaten:

15 B ut the former captains that had been before me had charged the people and had taken of them for bread and wine, upon forty shekels of silver; and in addition to this their servants bore rule over the people; but I did not do so because of the fear of God.

the former governors who before me have made themselves heavy on the people, and take of them in bread and wine, besides in silver forty shekels; also, their servants have ruled over the people -- and I have not done so, because of the fear of God.

16 I n addition to this, I restored my part in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any inheritance; and all my servants were gathered together unto the work.

And also, in the work of this wall I have done mightily, even a field we have not bought, and all my servants are gathered there for the work;

17 I also had at my table one hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came unto us from among the Gentiles that are around us.

and of the Jews, and of the prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in unto us of the nations that round about us, at my table;

18 N ow that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and every ten days wine in all abundance; yet with all this I did not require the bread of the captain because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

and that which hath been prepared for one day one ox, six fat sheep, also fowls have been prepared for me, and once in ten days of all wines abundantly, and with this, the bread of the governor I have not sought, for heavy is the service on this people.

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

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