¹ And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

² For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

³ Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

⁴ There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

⁵ Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we 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.

⁶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

⁷ Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

⁸ And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.

⁹ Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

¹⁰ I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

¹¹ Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

¹² Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

¹³ Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

¹⁵ 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 their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

¹⁶ Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

¹⁷ Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.

¹⁸ Now that which was prepared for me daily 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 required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

¹⁹ Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

---

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 We, our sons, ^H1121 and our daughters, ^H1323 are many: ^H7227 therefore we take up ^H3947 corn ^H1715 for them, that we may eat, ^H398 and live. ^H2421

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

⁴ There were ^H3426 also that said, ^H559 We have borrowed ^H3867 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 our sons ^H1121 and our daughters ^H1323 to be servants, ^H5650 and some of our daughters ^H1323 are ^H3426 brought unto bondage ^H3533 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 when I heard ^H8085 their cry ^H2201 and these words. ^H1697

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

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

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

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

¹¹ Restore, ^H7725 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 of them.

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

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

¹⁴ Moreover from the time ^H3117 that I was appointed ^H6680 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 the bread ^H3899 of the governor. ^H6346

¹⁵ But the former ^H7223 governors ^H6346 that had been before ^H6440 me were chargeable ^H3513 unto the people, ^H5971 and had taken ^H3947 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 over the people: ^H5971 but so did ^H6213 not I, because ^H6440 of the fear ^H3374 of God. ^H430

¹⁶ Yea, also I continued ^H2388 in the work ^H4399 of this wall, ^H2346 neither bought ^H7069 we any land: ^H7704 and all my servants ^H5288 were gathered ^H6908 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 unto us from among the heathen ^H1471 that are about us. ^H5439

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

¹⁹ Think ^H2142 upon me, my God, ^H430 for good, ^H2896 according to all that I have done ^H6213 for this people. ^H5971

---

¹ Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

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

³ 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 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute `upon' our fields and our vineyards.

⁵ Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, 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 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

⁷ Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

⁸ And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.

⁹ Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

¹⁰ And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

¹¹ Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

¹² Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.

¹³ Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.

¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, `that is', twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

¹⁵ But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

¹⁶ Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

¹⁷ Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.

¹⁸ 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 demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

¹⁹ Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

---

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

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

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

⁵ 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 And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

⁷ 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Remember for me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

---

¹ And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

² And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.

³ And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.

⁴ And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;

⁵ yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must 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 the power of our hand [to redeem them], for other men have our fields and our vineyards.

⁶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

⁷ And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them.

⁸ And I said to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? And they were silent and found no answer.

⁹ And I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies?

¹⁰ I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

¹¹ Restore, I pray you, to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive-gardens, and their houses, also the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that ye have exacted of them.

¹² And they said, We will restore [them], and will require nothing of them; so will we do, as thou hast said. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

¹³ Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house and from his earnings, that performeth not this promise: even thus be he shaken out and emptied! And all the congregation said, Amen! And they praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.

¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

¹⁵ But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God.

¹⁶ Yea, also I applied myself to this work of the wall, and we bought no fields; and all my servants were gathered thither for the work.

¹⁷ And there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers, besides those that came to us from among the nations that were about us.

¹⁸ And that which was prepared daily was one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days all sorts of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor; for the service was heavy upon this people.

¹⁹ Remember for me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

---

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

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

³ 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 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute [on] our fields and our vineyards.

⁵ 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 I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

⁷ 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 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 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 likewise, my brothers and my servants, do lend them money and grain. Please let us leave off this usury.

¹¹ 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.

---

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

² 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 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 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 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 And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry.

⁷ 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Keep in mind, O my God, for my good, all I have done for this people.