[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.
