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

And there was a great outcry of the people and 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 there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”

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.”

There were also some who said, “We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.”

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.

There were also those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our lands and vineyards.

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.”

Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.”

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

And I became very angry when I heard their outcry 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.

After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called 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.

And I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren? Or should they be sold to us?” Then they were silenced and found nothing 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?

Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the 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 also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury!

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.”

Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged 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.

So they said, “We will restore it, and will require nothing from them; we will do as you say.” Then I called the priests, and required an oath from them 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

Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out each man from his house, and from his property, who does not perform this promise. Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. Then the people did according to this promise. The Generosity of Nehemiah

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.

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions.

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 who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the 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.

Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. 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 at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around 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 that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people.

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

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