Nehemiah 5

And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

The people and their wives raised a loud, anguished outcry against their fellow Jews.

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.

Some voiced out, "We have many children. So, we gather grain for them, so we can eat and survive."

Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

Some people expressed their despair, "We've risked our homes, farms, and properties to buy food due to the severe famine."

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

Some also cried out, "We've taken loans for the king's tax, staking our lands and vineyards."

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.

We are all the same, our kids are just like theirs. Yet, we've been forced to sell our own children into servitude. Some of our daughters are already enslaved. We're powerless to free them, as others now own our lands and vineyards.

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Hearing their cries and words filled me with intense anger.

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.

After deep thought, I confronted the leaders, accusing them of exploiting their own people through unfair lending. In response, I rallied a large group to stand against them.

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.

I asked them, "We've done our best to free our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners. Would you really sell your own brothers, or should they be sold to us?" They were speechless, unable to respond.

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?

I pleaded, "Your actions aren't right. Shouldn't you live in the fear of our God, so that our enemies among the nations have no reason to ridicule us?"

I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

Just like you, my brothers, my workers, and I could demand money and food from them. But please, let's stop this unfair lending.

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.

Please, give back to them today what's rightfully theirs - their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their homes. Give back also the interest you've been charging them, the hundredth part of the money, the grain, the wine, and the oil.

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.

They agreed, "We will return what's theirs, asking nothing in return, as you've instructed." I then summoned the priests and had the leaders swear a solemn oath before them to keep this promise.

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.

I shook out the folds of my robe and declared, "May God shake out of their home and their work anyone who doesn't keep this promise, just like this, leaving them with nothing." The whole crowd answered, "Amen," and praised God. And the people did as they had promised.

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.

Since I was chosen to lead Judah, during the 12 years from the 20th to the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes' reign, neither I nor my brothers have eaten the food allowance owed to the governor.

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.

The governors before me burdened the people, taking their food, wine, and money. Even their servants dominated the people. But I didn't do this, out of my deep respect for God.

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.

Indeed, I remained dedicated to building this wall, not once did we purchase any land. All my helpers joined me, focused on this task.

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.

At my table, we welcomed 150 Jewish leaders, along with others who joined us from different faiths in our surrounding community.

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.

Every day, I was given an ox, six prime sheep, and various birds to eat. Every ten days, I received a variety of wines. Despite all this, I never asked for the governor's bread, as I knew the people were already burdened.

Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

God, remember me kindly, reflecting all the good I've done for these people.