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 labor, 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 bore 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 a 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.
Prev 
List 
Next 254 of 538: and there
Prev 
List 
Next 71 of 130: and there was
Prev 
List 
Next 21 of 43: and there was a
Prev 
List 
Next 4 of 8: and there was a great
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 2: and there was a great cry
Prev 
List 
Next 185 of 338: there was
Prev 
List 
Next 36 of 98: there was a
Prev 
List 
Next 5 of 13: there was a great
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 2: there was a great cry
Prev 
List 
Next 130 of 256: was a
Prev 
List 
Next 10 of 18: was a great
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 2: was a great cry
Prev 
List 
Next 94 of 248: a great
Prev 
List 
Next 3 of 4: a great cry
Prev 
List 
Next 3 of 4: great cry
Prev 
List 
Next 7 of 19: cry of
Prev 
List 
Next 3 of 9: cry of the
Prev 
List 
Next 6117 of 11517: of the
Prev 
List 
Next 110 of 204: of the people
Prev 
List 
Next 27 of 46: of the people and
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 3: of the people and of
Prev 
List 
Next 737 of 1218: the people
Prev 
List 
Next 102 of 170: the people and
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 3: the people and of
Prev 
List 
Next 180 of 355: people and
Prev 
List 
Next 3 of 5: people and of
Prev 
List 
Next 338 of 618: and of
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 6: and of their
Prev 
List 
Next 243 of 509: of their
Prev 
List 
Next 1 of 2: of their wives
Prev 
List 
Next 9 of 25: their wives
Prev 
List 
Next 8 of 14: against their
Prev 
List 
Next 3 of 3: against their brethren
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 2: against their brethren the
Prev 
List 
Next 49 of 62: their brethren
Prev 
List 
Next 11 of 11: their brethren the
Prev 
List 
Next 31 of 42: brethren the
Prev 
List 
Next 1 of 2: brethren the jews
Prev 
List 
Next 14 of 216: the jews
Prev 
List 
Next 1 of 7: the jews for
Prev 
List 
Next 2 of 9: jews for