¶ And there was a great cry¹ of the people and of their wives against their brethren² the Jews.

For there were that said, We, our sons³, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn⁴ for them, that we may eat, and live.

Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged⁵ our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because⁶ of the dearth.

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute⁷, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

Yet now our flesh⁸ is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we⁹ bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

¶¹⁰And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Then I consulted with myself¹¹, and I rebuked¹² the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury¹³, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly¹⁴ against them.

And I said unto them, We after¹⁵ our ability have redeemed¹⁶ our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your¹⁷ brethren? or shall they¹⁸ be sold unto us? Then held¹⁹ they their peace, and found nothing to answer.

Also I said, It is not²⁰ good that ye do: ought ye not to walk²¹ in the fear of our God because of the reproach²² of the heathen our enemies?

¶ I likewise,²³ and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you,²⁴ let us leave²⁵ off this usury.

Restore²⁶, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands²⁷, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth²⁸ part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

Then said they, We will restore²⁹ them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called³⁰ the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

Also I shook my lap³¹, and said, So God³² shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied³³. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised³⁴ the LORD. And the people³⁵ did according to this promise.

¶ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth³⁶ year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my³⁷ brethren have not eaten the bread³⁸ of the governor.

But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their³⁹ servants bare rule over the people: but so did⁴⁰ not I, because⁴¹ of the fear of God.

Yea, also I continued⁴² in the work of this wall, neither bought⁴³ we any land: and all my⁴⁴ servants were gathered thither unto the work.

Moreover⁴⁵ there were at my table⁴⁶ an hundred⁴⁷ and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.

Now that⁴⁸ which was prepared for me daily was one ox⁴⁹ 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 required⁵⁰ not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage⁵¹ was heavy upon this people.

Think⁵² upon me, my God, for good, according to⁵³ all that I have done for this people.