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

Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

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 that said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. 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.”

Some also there were that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get 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 some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.

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 brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our 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.

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 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, 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 never a word.

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, “The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to 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 likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend 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.”

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 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 them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of 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

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 thus be he shaken out, and emptied.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. 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.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of 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 who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides 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 I also worked on this wall myself, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there for the work.

Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to 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.

Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were 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 for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn’t demand the bread of the governor, 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 to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.