1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren (to whom they were deeply in debt). 2For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters, are many; so we need grain to eat, and survive.” 3Others said, “We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, to buy grain, because of the famine.” 4And others said, “We have borrowed money against our lands and vineyards for the king's tax. 5Though we are the same flesh of our brothers, our children as their children; but now, we must sell our sons and our daughters into bondage, and some of our daughters are already in bondage; nor can we redeem them; for other men own our lands and vineyards.”

6And when I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7Then I thought it over, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, saying, “You charge your own brothers interest!” And I convened a great assembly against them. 8And I told them, “We, to the best of our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the gentile nations; and will you then sell your brethren? Or have them sold to us?” Then they were silent, having nothing to answer. 9So 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? 10I, my brethren, and my servants, are also lending them money and grain; but let us stop this charging of interest. 11Restore to them this day their lands, vineyards, olive yards, and their houses, as well as the one percent of the money, grain, wine, and the oil, that you exacted from them.” 12Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; we will do as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13I also shook my lap, and said, “So may God shake every man from His house, and from His labor, that does not keep this promise, even thus let him be shaken out, and emptied.” And all the congregation said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the governor’s bread allowance. 15But the governors who had been before me had laid a heavy burden upon the people, and had taken food and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; and even their servants assumed authority over the people. But I did not do so, because of my fear of God. 16Instead, I applied myself to the work of this wall, nor did we buy any land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17Moreover, there were at my table a hundred fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those who came to us from among the nations around us. 18What was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; as well as fowls prepared for me, and every ten days, a store of all sorts of wine. Yet, for all this, I did not demand an allotment of the governor’s food, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.