1 And there was a great|strong="H1419" cry|strong="H6818" of the people|strong="H5971" and of their wives|strong="H0802" against their brethren|strong="H0251" the Jews|strong="H3064".
2 For there were|strong="H3426" that said|strong="H0559", We, our sons|strong="H1121", and our daughters|strong="H1323", are many|strong="H7227": therefore we take up|strong="H3947" corn|strong="H1715" for them, that we may eat|strong="H0398", and live|strong="H2421".
3 Some also there were|strong="H3426" that said|strong="H0559", We have mortgaged|strong="H6148" our lands|strong="H7704", vineyards|strong="H3754", and houses|strong="H1004", that we might buy|strong="H3947" corn|strong="H1715", because of the dearth|strong="H7458".
4 There were|strong="H3426" also that said|strong="H0559", We have borrowed|strong="H3867" money|strong="H3701" for the king’s|strong="H4428" tribute|strong="H4060", and that upon our lands|strong="H7704" and vineyards|strong="H3754".
5 Yet now our flesh|strong="H1320" is as the flesh|strong="H1320" of our brethren|strong="H0251", our children|strong="H1121" as their children|strong="H1121": and, lo, we bring into bondage|strong="H3533" our sons|strong="H1121" and our daughters|strong="H1323" to be servants|strong="H5650", and some of our daughters|strong="H1323" are|strong="H3426" brought unto bondage|strong="H3533" already: neither is it in our power|strong="H0410" to redeem them; for other men|strong="H0312" have our lands|strong="H7704" and vineyards|strong="H3754".
6 And I was very|strong="H3966" angry|strong="H2734" when I heard|strong="H8085" their cry|strong="H2201" and these words|strong="H1697".
7 Then I consulted|strong="H4427" with myself|strong="H3820", and I rebuked|strong="H7378" the nobles|strong="H2715", and the rulers|strong="H5461", and said|strong="H0559" unto them, Ye exact|strong="H5378" usury|strong="H4855", every one|strong="H0376" of his brother|strong="H0251". And I set|strong="H5414" a great|strong="H1419" assembly|strong="H6952" against them.
8 And I said|strong="H0559" unto them, We after our ability|strong="H1767" have redeemed|strong="H7069" our brethren|strong="H0251" the Jews|strong="H3064", which were sold|strong="H4376" unto the heathen|strong="H1471"; and will ye even sell|strong="H4376" your brethren|strong="H0251"? or shall they be sold|strong="H4376" unto us? Then held they their peace|strong="H2790", and found|strong="H4672" nothing|strong="H1697" to answer.
9 Also I said|strong="H0559", It is not good|strong="H2896" that|strong="H1697" ye do|strong="H6213": ought ye not to walk|strong="H3212" in the fear|strong="H3374" of our God|strong="H0430" because of the reproach|strong="H2781" of the heathen|strong="H1471" our enemies|strong="H0341"?
10 I likewise, and my brethren|strong="H0251", and my servants|strong="H5288", might exact|strong="H5383" of them money|strong="H3701" and corn|strong="H1715": I pray you, let us leave off|strong="H5800" this usury|strong="H4855".
11 Restore|strong="H7725", I pray you, to them, even this day|strong="H3117", their lands|strong="H7704", their vineyards|strong="H3754", their oliveyards|strong="H2132", and their houses|strong="H1004", also the hundredth|strong="H3967" part of the money|strong="H3701", and of the corn|strong="H1715", the wine|strong="H8492", and the oil|strong="H3323", that ye exact|strong="H5383" of them.
12 Then said|strong="H0559" they, We will restore|strong="H7725" them, and will require|strong="H1245" nothing of them; so will we do|strong="H6213" as thou sayest|strong="H0559". Then I called|strong="H7121" the priests|strong="H3548", and took an oath|strong="H7650" of them, that they should do|strong="H6213" according to this promise|strong="H1697".
13 Also I shook|strong="H5287" my lap|strong="H2684", and said|strong="H0559", So God|strong="H0430" shake out|strong="H5287" every man|strong="H0376" from his house|strong="H1004", and from his labour|strong="H3018", that performeth|strong="H6965" not this promise|strong="H1697", even thus be he shaken out|strong="H5287", and emptied|strong="H7386". And all the congregation|strong="H6951" said|strong="H0559", Amen|strong="H0543", and praised|strong="H1984" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*. And the people|strong="H5971" did|strong="H6213" according to this promise|strong="H1697".
14 Moreover from the time|strong="H3117" that I was appointed|strong="H6680" to be their governor|strong="H6346" in the land|strong="H0776" of Judah|strong="H3063", from the twentieth|strong="H6242" year|strong="H8141" even unto the two|strong="H8147" and thirtieth|strong="H7970" year|strong="H8141" of Artaxerxes|strong="H0783" the king|strong="H4428", that is, twelve|strong="H8147" years|strong="H8141", I and my brethren|strong="H0251" have not eaten|strong="H0398" the bread|strong="H3899" of the governor|strong="H6346".
15 But the former|strong="H7223" governors|strong="H6346" that had been before|strong="H6440" me were chargeable|strong="H3513" unto the people|strong="H5971", and had taken|strong="H3947" of them bread|strong="H3899" and wine|strong="H3196", beside|strong="H0310" forty|strong="H0705" shekels|strong="H8255" of silver|strong="H3701"; yea, even|strong="H1571" their servants|strong="H5288" bare rule|strong="H7980" over the people|strong="H5971": but so did|strong="H6213" not I, because|strong="H6440" of the fear|strong="H3374" of God|strong="H0430".
16 Yea, also I continued|strong="H2388" in the work|strong="H4399" of this wall|strong="H2346", neither bought|strong="H7069" we any land|strong="H7704": and all my servants|strong="H5288" were gathered|strong="H6908" thither unto the work|strong="H4399".
17 Moreover there were at my table|strong="H7979" an hundred|strong="H3967" and fifty|strong="H2572" of the Jews|strong="H3064" and rulers|strong="H5461", beside those that came|strong="H0935" unto us from among the heathen|strong="H1471" that are about us|strong="H5439".
18 Now that which was prepared|strong="H6213" for me daily|strong="H3117" was one|strong="H0259" ox|strong="H7794" and six|strong="H8337" choice|strong="H1305" sheep|strong="H6629"; also fowls|strong="H6833" were prepared|strong="H6213" for me, and once in ten|strong="H6235" days|strong="H3117" store|strong="H7235" of all sorts of wine|strong="H3196": yet for all|strong="H5973" this required|strong="H1245" not I the bread|strong="H3899" of the governor|strong="H6346", because the bondage|strong="H5656" was heavy|strong="H3513" upon this people|strong="H5971".
19 Think|strong="H2142" upon me, my God|strong="H0430", for good|strong="H2896", according to all that I have done|strong="H6213" for this people|strong="H5971".