1 N ow the people and their wives began to cry in a loud voice against their Jewish brothers.

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

2 F or some said, “We, our sons and our daughters are many. Let us get grain, 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 some said, “We are giving up our fields, our grape-vines and our houses, that we might get grain because of no food.”

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

4 O thers said, “We have taken money from others to pay the king’s tax on our fields and our grape-vines, and we must pay back this money.

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

5 O ur flesh is like the flesh of our brothers. Our children are like their children. Yet we are made to sell our sons and daughters to work for others. Some of our daughters have already been sold and taken away. We cannot do anything, because our fields and vines belong to others.”

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 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 I thought about it, and spoke sharp words to the rulers and leaders. I said to them, “You are making the people pay back more money than you give them to use!” So I gathered many people together 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, “As we have been able, we have bought and freed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations. But you would even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were quiet and could not find a word to say.

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 S o I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to stop the nations who hate us from putting us to shame?

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 , my brothers and my servants are giving them money and grain. Let us stop making them pay back more than they are given.

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

11 R eturn to them this very day their fields, vines, olive trees, and houses. Also return to them one-hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine, and oil, that you have been making them pay.”

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 T hen they said, “We will give these back and will ask nothing from them. We will do just as you say.” So I called the religious leaders, and had them promise that they would keep their word.

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 I shook out the front of my clothing and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from all he has worked for, who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and made empty.” And all the people said, “Let it be so!” and praised the Lord. Then they did as they had promised. Nehemiah Does Not Think of Himself

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 A lso, in the twelve years after I was chosen to be their ruler in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, I and my brothers did not eat the food allowed to the ruler.

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 T he rulers who were before me made the people work very hard. They took bread and wine from them, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their servants ruled over the people. But I did not do 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 I also worked on this wall myself, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there 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 lso, there were 150 Jews and leaders at my table, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.

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

18 O ne bull, six of the best sheep, and birds were made ready for me each day. All kinds of wine were brought in every ten days. Yet for all this I did not make them give me the food allowed to me as ruler, because the work was very hard for these 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 O my God, remember me for good for all I have done for these people.

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