^{1 Ref} Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their countrymen the Jews.

^{2 Ref} For there were some who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are a great number: let us get grain, so that we may have food for our needs.

^{3 Ref} And there were some who said, We are giving our fields and our vine-gardens and our houses for debt: let us get grain because we are in need.

^{4 Ref} And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.

^{5 Ref} But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children: and now we are giving our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants, and some of our daughters are servants even now: and we have no power to put a stop to it; for other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.

^{6 Ref} And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry.

^{7 Ref} And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest.

^{8 Ref} And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word.

^{9 Ref} And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our God, because of the shame which the nations may put on us?

^{10 Ref} Even I and my servants have been taking interest for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give up this thing.

^{11 Ref} Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil which you have taken from them.

^{12 Ref} Then they said, We will give them back, and take nothing for them; we will do as you say. Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement.

^{13 Ref} And shaking out the folds of my robe, I said, So may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement; even so let him be sent out and made as nothing. And all the meeting of the people said, So be it, and gave praise to the Lord. And the people did as they had said.

^{14 Ref} Now from the time when I was made ruler of the people in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year till the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, I and my servants have never taken the food which was the right of the ruler.

^{15 Ref} But earlier rulers who were before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver; and even their servants were lords over the people: but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

^{16 Ref} And I kept on with the work of this wall, and we got no land for ourselves: and all my servants were helping with the work.

^{17 Ref} And more than this, a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers were guests at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the nations round about us.

^{18 Ref} Now the food made ready for one day was one ox and six fat sheep, as well as fowls; and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine: but all the same, I did not take the food to which the ruler had a right, because the people were crushed under a hard yoke.

^{19 Ref} Keep in mind, O my God, for my good, all I have done for this people.

^{1 Ref} And there is a great cry of the people and their wives, concerning their brethren the Jews,

^{2 Ref} yea, there are who are saying, `Our sons, and our daughters, we -- are many, and we receive corn, and eat, and live.'

^{3 Ref} 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 Ref} And there are who are saying, `We have borrowed money for the tribute of the king, `on' our fields, and our vineyards;

^{5 Ref} and now, as the flesh of our brethren `is' our flesh, as their sons `are' 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 `are' to others.'

^{6 Ref} And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

^{7 Ref} 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 Ref} and say to them, `We have acquired our brethren the Jews, those sold to the nations, according to the ability that `is' 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 Ref} And I say, `Not good `is' 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 Ref} 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 Ref} Give back, I pray you, to them, as to-day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive-yards, and their houses, and the hundredth `part' of the money, and of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil, that ye are exacting of them.'

^{12 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} the former governors who `are' 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 Ref} 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 Ref} and of the Jews, and of the prefects, a hundred and fifty men, and those coming in unto us of the nations that `are' round about us, `are' at my table;

^{18 Ref} and that which hath been prepared for one day `is' 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 Ref} Remember for me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

^{1 Ref} Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

^{2 Ref} For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.

^{3 Ref} Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.

^{4 Ref} There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute [on] our fields and our vineyards.

^{5 Ref} Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children: and, behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.

^{6 Ref} I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

^{7 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 held they their peace, and found never a word.

^{9 Ref} 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 Ref} I likewise, my brothers and my servants, do lend them money and grain. Please let us leave off this usury.

^{11 Ref} Please restore to them, even this day, 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 exact of them.

^{12 Ref} Then said they, 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 Ref} Also I shook out my lap, and said, So 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 Ref} 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 Ref} But the former governors who were before me were chargeable to the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bore rule over the people: but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God.

^{16 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 round about us.

^{18 Ref} 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 Ref} Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.