NE-5:1  And there was a great cry of the people and of their

wives against

their brethren the Jews.

NE-5:2  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.

NE-5:3  [Some] also there were that said, We have mortgaged our

lands,

vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the

dearth.

NE-5:4  There were also that said, We have borrowed money for

the king's

tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.

NE-5:5  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.

NE-5:6  And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these

words.

NE-5:7  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.

NE-5:8  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].

NE-5:9  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?

NE-5:10  I likewise, [and] my brethren, and my servants, might

exact of them

money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

NE-5:11  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.

NE-5:12  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.

NE-5:13  Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every

man from his

house, and from his labour, 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.

NE-5:14  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.

NE-5:15  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 bare rule over the people: but

so did not I,

because of the fear of God.

NE-5:16  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.

NE-5:17  Moreover [there were] at my table an hundred and fifty

of the Jews

and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the

heathen that [are]

about us.

NE-5:18  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.

NE-5:19  Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all

that I have done

for this people.

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