1And there was a great cry of the people and their wives (ishah) against their brothers the Jews.
2And there were those who said, "Our sons and our daughters, we are many; so let us take grain that we may eat and live."
3And there were those who said, "Our fields and our vineyards and our houses we are pledging, that we may take grain in the famine."
4And there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and our vineyards.
5And now, as the flesh (basar) of our brothers is our flesh (basar), as their sons are our sons; and behold, we are subjecting our sons and our daughters for servants, and there are some of our daughters already subjected, and there is no power in our hand, for our fields and our vineyards belong to others."
6And it burned to me greatly when I heard their outcry and these words.
7And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended with the nobles and with the rulers, and I said to them, "You are exacting usury, each man (ish) on his brother." And I set against them a great assembly.
8And I said to them, "We, according to what was in us, have bought back our brothers the Jews who were sold to the nations; and will you yourselves even sell your brothers, that they may be sold to us?" Then they were silent and found no word.
9And I said, "Not good is the thing that you are doing. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?
10And also I, my brothers and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Let us please leave off this usury.
11Restore to them, please, this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and the hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil, which you are exacting of them."
12And they said, "We will restore them, and from them we will require nothing; thus we will do, as you say." And I called the priests, and made them swear to do according to this word.
13Also I shook out my lap and said, "So may God shake out every man (ish) who does not establish this word, from his house and from his labor; even thus may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen," and praised YHWH. And the people did according to this word.
14Also from the day that he commanded (tzivvah) me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king—twelve years—I and my brothers did not eat the bread of the governor.
15But the former governors who were before me made it heavy upon the people, and took from them in bread and wine, afterward forty shekels of silver; their servants also lorded over the people; but I myself did not do so, because of the fear of God.
16And also in the work of this wall I took hold, and we did not buy a field; and all my servants were gathered there to the work.
17And the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men (ish), and those who came to us from the nations that were around us, were at my table.
18And that which was prepared for one day was one ox, six choice sheep, and birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all kinds of wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not require the bread of the governor, because the service (avodah) was heavy upon this people.
19Remember for me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.