Dual Panel1Now there was a great<1419> outcry<6818> of the people<5971> and of their wives<802> against<413> their Jewish<3064> brothers<251>.
2For there<3426> were those who<834> said<559>, "We, our sons<1121> and our daughters<1323> are many<7227>; therefore let us get<3947> grain<1715> that we may eat<398> and live<2421>."
3There<3426> were others who<834> said<559>, "We are mortgaging<6148> our fields<7704>, our vineyards<3754> and our houses<1004> that we might get<3947> grain<1715> because of the famine<7458>."
4Also there<3426> were those who<834> said<559>, "We have borrowed<3867> money<3701> for the king's<4428> tax<4060> on our fields<7704> and our vineyards<3754>.
5"Now<6258> our flesh<1320> is like the flesh<1320> of our brothers<251>, our children<1121> like their children<1121>. Yet behold<2009>, we are forcing<3533> our sons<1121> and our daughters<1323> to be slaves<5650>, and some<4480> of our daughters<1323> are forced<3533> into bondage<3533> already, and we are helpless<369><410><3027> because our fields<7704> and vineyards<3754> belong to others<312>."
6Then I was very<3966> angry<2734> when<3512> I had heard<8085> their outcry<2201> and these<428> words<1697>.
7I consulted<4427> with myself and contended<7378> with the nobles<2715> and the rulers<5461> and said<559> to them, "You are exacting<5377> usury<4855>, each<376> from his brother<251>!" Therefore, I held<5414> a great<1419> assembly<6952> against<5921> them.
8I said<559> to them, "We according to our ability<1767> have redeemed<7069> our Jewish<3064> brothers<251> who were sold<4376> to the nations<1471>; now would you even<1571> sell<4376> your brothers<251> that they may be sold<4376> to us?" Then they were silent<2790> and could not find<4672> a word<1697> to say.
9Again I said<559>, "The thing<1697> which<834> you are doing<6213> is not good<2896>; should you not walk<1980> in the fear<3374> of our God<430> because<4480> of the reproach<2781> of the nations<1471>, our enemies<340>?
10"And likewise<1571> I, my brothers<251> and my servants<5288> are lending<5383> them money<3701> and grain<1715>. Please<4994>, let us leave<5800> off this<2088> usury<4855>.
11"Please<4994>, give<7725> back<7725> to them this very day<3117> their fields<7704>, their vineyards<3754>, their olive<2132> groves<2132> and their houses<1004>, also the hundredth<3967> part of the money<3701> and of the grain<1715>, the new<8492> wine<8492> and the oil<3323> that you are exacting<5383> from them."
12Then they said<559>, "We will give<7725> it back<7725> and will require<1245> nothing<3808> from them; we will do<6213> exactly<3651> as you say<559>." So I called<7121> the priests<3548> and took<7650> an oath<7650> from them that they would do<6213> according to this<2088> promise<1697>.
13I also<1571> shook<5287> out the front<2684> of my garment<2684> and said<559>, "Thus<3602> may God<430> shake<5287> out every<3605> man<376> from his house<1004> and from his possessions<3018> who<834> does not fulfill<6965> this<2088> promise<1697>; even thus<3602> may he be shaken<5287> out and emptied<7386>." And all<3605> the assembly<6951> said<559>, "Amen<543>!" And they praised<1984> the LORD<3068>. Then the people<5971> did<6213> according to this<2088> promise<1697>.
14Moreover<1571>, from the day<3117> that I was appointed<6680> to be their governor<6346> in the land<776> of Judah<3063>, from the twentieth<6242> year<8141> to the thirty-second<7970><8147> year<8141> of King<4428> Artaxerxes<783>, for twelve<8147><6240> years<8141>, neither<3808> I nor<3808> my kinsmen<251> have eaten<398> the governor's<6346> food<3899> allowance.
15But the former<7223> governors<6346> who<834> were before<6440> me laid<3513> burdens<3513> on the people<5971> and took<3947> from them bread<3899> and wine<3196> besides<310> forty<705> shekels<8255> of silver<3701>; even<1571> their servants<5288> domineered<7980> the people<5971>. But I did not do<6213> so<3651> because<4480><6440> of the fear<3374> of God<430>.
16I also<1571> applied<2388> myself to the work<4399> on this<2088> wall<2346>; we did not buy<7069> any land<7704>, and all<3605> my servants<5288> were gathered<6908> there<8033> for the work<4399>.
17Moreover, there were at my table<7979> one hundred<3967> and fifty<2572> Jews<3064> and officials<5461>, besides those who came<935> to us from the nations<1471> that were around<5439> us.
18Now that which<834> was prepared<6213> for each day<3117> was one<259> ox<7794> and six<8337> choice<1305> sheep<6629>, also birds<6833> were prepared<6213> for me; and once<996> in ten<6235> days<3117> all<3605> sorts of wine<3196> were furnished in abundance<7235>. Yet for all this<2088> I did not demand<1245> the governor's<6346> food<3899> allowance, because<3588> the servitude<5656> was heavy<3513> on this<2088> people<5971>.
19Remember<2142> me, O my God<430>, for good<2899>, according to all<3605> that I have done<6213> for this<2088> people<5971>.