1 And there was a great{H1419} cry{H6818} of the people{H5971} and of their wives{H802} against their brethren{H251} the Jews{H3064}.

2 For there were{H3426} that said{H559}{(H8802)}, We, our sons{H1121}, and our daughters{H1323}, are many{H7227}: therefore we take up{H3947}{(H8799)} corn{H1715} for them, that we may eat{H398}{(H8799)}, and live{H2421}{(H8799)}.

3 Some also there were{H3426} that said{H559}{(H8802)}, We have mortgaged{H6148}{(H8802)} our lands{H7704}, vineyards{H3754}, and houses{H1004}, that we might buy{H3947}{(H8799)} corn{H1715}, because of the dearth{H7458}.

4 There were{H3426} also that said{H559}{(H8802)}, We have borrowed{H3867}{(H8804)} money{H3701} for the king's{H4428} tribute{H4060}, and that upon our lands{H7704} and vineyards{H3754}.

5 Yet now our flesh{H1320} is as the flesh{H1320} of our brethren{H251}, our children{H1121} as their children{H1121}: and, lo, we bring into bondage{H3533}{(H8802)} our sons{H1121} and our daughters{H1323} to be servants{H5650}, and some of our daughters{H1323} are{H3426} brought unto bondage{H3533}{(H8737)} already: neither is it in our power{H410}{H3027} to redeem them; for other men{H312} have our lands{H7704} and vineyards{H3754}.

6 And I was very{H3966} angry{H2734}{(H8799)} when I heard{H8085}{(H8804)} their cry{H2201} and these words{H1697}.

7 Then I consulted{H4427}{(H8735)} with myself{H3820}, and I rebuked{H7378}{(H8799)} the nobles{H2715}, and the rulers{H5461}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Ye exact{H5378}{(H8801)}{(H8678)}{H5383}{(H8802)}{(H8675)}{H5375}{(H8802)} usury{H4855}, every one{H376} of his brother{H251}. And I set{H5414}{(H8799)} a great{H1419} assembly{H6952} against them.

8 And I said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, We after our ability{H1767} have redeemed{H7069}{(H8804)} our brethren{H251} the Jews{H3064}, which were sold{H4376}{(H8737)} unto the heathen{H1471}; and will ye even sell{H4376}{(H8799)} your brethren{H251}? or shall they be sold{H4376}{(H8738)} unto us? Then held they their peace{H2790}{(H8686)}, and found{H4672}{(H8804)} nothing{H1697} to answer.

9 Also I said{H559}{(H8799)}, It is not good{H2896} that{H1697} ye do{H6213}{(H8802)}: ought ye not to walk{H3212}{(H8799)} in the fear{H3374} of our God{H430} because of the reproach{H2781} of the heathen{H1471} our enemies{H341}{(H8802)}?

10 I likewise, and my brethren{H251}, and my servants{H5288}, might exact{H5383}{(H8802)} of them money{H3701} and corn{H1715}: I pray you, let us leave off{H5800}{(H8799)} this usury{H4855}.

11 Restore{H7725}{(H8685)}, I pray you, to them, even this day{H3117}, their lands{H7704}, their vineyards{H3754}, their oliveyards{H2132}, and their houses{H1004}, also the hundredth{H3967} part of the money{H3701}, and of the corn{H1715}, the wine{H8492}, and the oil{H3323}, that ye exact{H5383}{(H8802)} of them.

12 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} they, We will restore{H7725}{(H8686)} them, and will require{H1245}{(H8762)} nothing of them; so will we do{H6213}{(H8799)} as thou sayest{H559}{(H8802)}. Then I called{H7121}{(H8799)} the priests{H3548}, and took an oath{H7650}{(H8686)} of them, that they should do{H6213}{(H8800)} according to this promise{H1697}.

13 Also I shook{H5287}{(H8804)} my lap{H2684}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, So God{H430} shake out{H5287}{(H8762)} every man{H376} from his house{H1004}, and from his labour{H3018}, that performeth{H6965}{(H8686)} not this promise{H1697}, even thus be he shaken out{H5287}{(H8803)}, and emptied{H7386}. And all the congregation{H6951} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Amen{H543}, and praised{H1984}{(H8762)} the LORD{H3068}. And the people{H5971} did{H6213}{(H8799)} according to this promise{H1697}.

14 Moreover from the time{H3117} that I was appointed{H6680}{(H8765)} to be their governor{H6346} in the land{H776} of Judah{H3063}, from the twentieth{H6242} year{H8141} even unto the two{H8147} and thirtieth{H7970} year{H8141} of Artaxerxes{H783} the king{H4428}, that is, twelve{H8147}{H6240} years{H8141}, I and my brethren{H251} have not eaten{H398}{(H8804)} the bread{H3899} of the governor{H6346}.

15 But the former{H7223} governors{H6346} that had been before{H6440} me were chargeable{H3513}{(H8689)} unto the people{H5971}, and had taken{H3947}{(H8799)} of them bread{H3899} and wine{H3196}, beside{H310} forty{H705} shekels{H8255} of silver{H3701}; yea, even{H1571} their servants{H5288} bare rule{H7980}{(H8804)} over the people{H5971}: but so did{H6213}{(H8804)} not I, because{H6440} of the fear{H3374} of God{H430}.

16 Yea, also I continued{H2388}{(H8689)} in the work{H4399} of this wall{H2346}, neither bought{H7069}{(H8804)} we any land{H7704}: and all my servants{H5288} were gathered{H6908}{(H8803)} thither unto the work{H4399}.

17 Moreover there were at my table{H7979} an hundred{H3967} and fifty{H2572}{H376} of the Jews{H3064} and rulers{H5461}, beside those that came{H935}{(H8802)} unto us from among the heathen{H1471} that are about us{H5439}.

18 Now that which was prepared{H6213}{(H8737)} for me daily{H3117} was one{H259} ox{H7794} and six{H8337} choice{H1305}{(H8803)} sheep{H6629}; also fowls{H6833} were prepared{H6213}{(H8738)} for me, and once in ten{H6235} days{H3117} store{H7235}{(H8687)} of all sorts of wine{H3196}: yet for all{H5973} this required{H1245}{(H8765)} not I the bread{H3899} of the governor{H6346}, because the bondage{H5656} was heavy{H3513}{(H8804)} upon this people{H5971}.

19 Think{H2142}{(H8798)} upon me, my God{H430}, for good{H2896}, according to all that I have done{H6213}{(H8804)} for this people{H5971}.