Dual Panel1And there was a great <01419> cry <06818> of the people <05971> and of their wives <0802> against their brethren <0251> the Jews <03064>_.
2For there were <03426> that said <0559> (8802)_, We, our sons <01121>_, and our daughters <01323>_, [are] many <07227>_: therefore we take up <03947> (8799) corn <01715> [for them], that we may eat <0398> (8799)_, and live <02421> (8799)_.
3[Some] also there were <03426> that said <0559> (8802)_, We have mortgaged <06148> (8802) our lands <07704>_, vineyards <03754>_, and houses <01004>_, that we might buy <03947> (8799) corn <01715>_, because of the dearth <07458>_.
4There were <03426> also that said <0559> (8802)_, We have borrowed <03867> (8804) money <03701> for the king's <04428> tribute <04060>_, [and that upon] our lands <07704> and vineyards <03754>_.
5Yet now our flesh <01320> [is] as the flesh <01320> of our brethren <0251>_, our children <01121> as their children <01121>_: and, lo, we bring into bondage <03533> (8802) our sons <01121> and our daughters <01323> to be servants <05650>_, and [some] of our daughters <01323> are <03426> brought unto bondage <03533> (8737) [already]: neither [is it] in our power <0410> <03027> [to redeem them]; for other men <0312> have our lands <07704> and vineyards <03754>_.
6And I was very <03966> angry <02734> (8799) when I heard <08085> (8804) their cry <02201> and these words <01697>_.
7Then I consulted <04427> (8735) with myself <03820>_, and I rebuked <07378> (8799) the nobles <02715>_, and the rulers <05461>_, and said <0559> (8799) unto them, Ye exact <05378> (8801) (8678) <05383> (8802) (8675) <05375> (8802) usury <04855>_, every one <0376> of his brother <0251>_. And I set <05414> (8799) a great <01419> assembly <06952> against them. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me}
8And I said <0559> (8799) unto them, We after our ability <01767> have redeemed <07069> (8804) our brethren <0251> the Jews <03064>_, which were sold <04376> (8737) unto the heathen <01471>_; and will ye even sell <04376> (8799) your brethren <0251>_? or shall they be sold <04376> (8738) unto us? Then held they their peace <02790> (8686)_, and found <04672> (8804) nothing <01697> [to answer].
9Also I said <0559> (8799)_, It [is] not good <02896> that <01697> ye do <06213> (8802)_: ought ye not to walk <03212> (8799) in the fear <03374> of our God <0430> because of the reproach <02781> of the heathen <01471> our enemies <0341> (8802)_?
10I likewise, [and] my brethren <0251>_, and my servants <05288>_, might exact <05383> (8802) of them money <03701> and corn <01715>_: I pray you, let us leave off <05800> (8799) this usury <04855>_.
11Restore <07725> (8685)_, I pray you, to them, even this day <03117>_, their lands <07704>_, their vineyards <03754>_, their oliveyards <02132>_, and their houses <01004>_, also the hundredth <03967> [part] of the money <03701>_, and of the corn <01715>_, the wine <08492>_, and the oil <03323>_, that ye exact <05383> (8802) of them.
12Then said <0559> (8799) they, We will restore <07725> (8686) [them], and will require <01245> (8762) nothing of them; so will we do <06213> (8799) as thou sayest <0559> (8802)_. Then I called <07121> (8799) the priests <03548>_, and took an oath <07650> (8686) of them, that they should do <06213> (8800) according to this promise <01697>_.
13Also I shook <05287> (8804) my lap <02684>_, and said <0559> (8799)_, So God <0430> shake out <05287> (8762) every man <0376> from his house <01004>_, and from his labour <03018>_, that performeth <06965> (8686) not this promise <01697>_, even thus be he shaken out <05287> (8803)_, and emptied <07386>_. And all the congregation <06951> said <0559> (8799)_, Amen <0543>_, and praised <01984> (8762) the LORD <03068>_. And the people <05971> did <06213> (8799) according to this promise <01697>_. {emptied: Heb. empty, or, void}
14Moreover from the time <03117> that I was appointed <06680> (8765) to be their governor <06346> in the land <0776> of Judah <03063>_, from the twentieth <06242> year <08141> even unto the two <08147> and thirtieth <07970> year <08141> of Artaxerxes <0783> the king <04428>_, [that is], twelve <08147> <06240> years <08141>_, I and my brethren <0251> have not eaten <0398> (8804) the bread <03899> of the governor <06346>_.
15But the former <07223> governors <06346> that [had been] before <06440> me were chargeable <03513> (8689) unto the people <05971>_, and had taken <03947> (8799) of them bread <03899> and wine <03196>_, beside <0310> forty <0705> shekels <08255> of silver <03701>_; yea, even <01571> their servants <05288> bare rule <07980> (8804) over the people <05971>_: but so did <06213> (8804) not I, because <06440> of the fear <03374> of God <0430>_.
16Yea, also I continued <02388> (8689) in the work <04399> of this wall <02346>_, neither bought <07069> (8804) we any land <07704>_: and all my servants <05288> [were] gathered <06908> (8803) thither unto the work <04399>_.
17Moreover [there were] at my table <07979> an hundred <03967> and fifty <02572> <0376> of the Jews <03064> and rulers <05461>_, beside those that came <0935> (8802) unto us from among the heathen <01471> that [are] about us <05439>_.
18Now [that] which was prepared <06213> (8737) [for me] daily <03117> [was] one <0259> ox <07794> [and] six <08337> choice <01305> (8803) sheep <06629>_; also fowls <06833> were prepared <06213> (8738) for me, and once in ten <06235> days <03117> store <07235> (8687) of all sorts of wine <03196>_: yet for all <05973> this required <01245> (8765) not I the bread <03899> of the governor <06346>_, because the bondage <05656> was heavy <03513> (8804) upon this people <05971>_.
19Think <02142> (8798) upon me, my God <0430>_, for good <02896>_, [according] to all that I have done <06213> (8804) for this people <05971>_.