Nehemiah, Chapter 5

1. And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their kindred the Jews.    2. For there were some that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we must buy grain 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 grain, because of the famine.    4. There were also some that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute on our lands and vineyards.    5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our kindred, 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 into 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 to them, You require interest, every one from his brother. And I called a great assembly against them.    8. And I said to them, We according to our ability have redeemed our kindred the Jews, which were sold to the heathen; and will you even sell your kindred? or shall they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and had nothing to answer.    9. Also I said, It is not good what you do: ought you 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 require of them money and grain: I pray you, let us leave off charging interest.    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 grain, the wine, and the oil, that you require of them.    12. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath from them, that they should do according to this promise.    13. Also I shook my garment, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that does not fulfill this promise, even thus may he be 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 to the thirty second 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 costly to the people, and had taken from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bore rule over the people: but so I did not, because of the fear of God.    16. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.    17. Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came to us from among the heathen that are around 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 an abundance of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I did not ask for the bread allowance of the governor, because the forced service was heavy upon this people.    19. Think on me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.