And there wasa greatcryof the peopleand of their wivesagainsttheir brethrenthe Jews. For there werethatsaid, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take upcorn for them , that we may eat, and live. Some also there werethatsaid, Wehave mortgagedour lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buycorn, because of the dearth. There werealso thatsaid, We have borrowedmoneyfor the king's tribute, and that upon our landsand vineyards. Yet nowour flesh is as the fleshof our brethren, our childrenas their children: and, lo, webring into bondageour sonsand our daughtersto be servants, and some of our daughtersarebrought unto bondage already : neither is it in our power to redeem them ; for othermen have our landsand vineyards. And I was veryangrywhenI heardtheir cryand thesewords. Then I consultedwithmyself, and I rebukedthe nobles, and the rulers, and saidunto them, Yeexactusury, every oneof his brother. And I seta greatassemblyagainstthem. And I saidunto them, Weafter our abilityhave redeemedour brethrenthe Jews, which were soldunto the heathen; and will yeevensellyour brethren? or shall they be soldunto us? Then held they their peace, and foundnothing to answer . Also I said, It is notgoodthatyedo: ought ye notto walkin the fearof our Godbecause of the reproachof the heathenour enemies? Ilikewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exactof them moneyand corn: I prayyou, let us leave offthisusury. Restore, I prayyou, 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, thatyeexactof them. Then saidthey, We will restore them , and will requirenothingofthem; sowill we doasthousayest. Then I calledthe priests, and took an oathof them, that they should doaccording to thispromise. AlsoI shookmy lap, and said, SoGodshake outeverymanfrom his house, and from his labor, thatperformethnotthispromise, even thusbehe shaken out, and emptied. And allthe congregationsaid, Amen, and praisedthe LORD. And the peopledidaccording to thispromise. Moreoverfrom the timethatI was appointedto betheir governorin the landof Judah, from the twentiethyeareven untothe twoand thirtiethyearof Artaxerxesthe king, that is , twelveyears, Iand my brethrenhave noteatenthe breadof the governor. But the formergovernorsthat had been beforeme were chargeableuntothe people, and had takenofthem breadand wine, besidefortyshekelsof silver; yea, even their servantsbore ruleoverthe people: but sodidnotI, becauseof the fearof God. Yea, alsoI continuedin the workof thiswall, neitherboughtwe any land: and allmy servants were gatheredthitheruntothe work. Moreover there were atmy tablea hundredand fiftyof the Jewsand rulers, beside those that cameuntous from amongthe heathenthat are aboutus. Now that whichwasprepared for me daily was oneox and sixchoicesheep; also fowlswere preparedfor me, and oncein tendaysstoreof allsorts of wine: yet for allthisrequirednotI the breadof the governor, becausethe bondagewas heavyuponthispeople. Thinkupon me, my God, for good, according to allthatI have doneforthispeople.