Study Desk

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

For some were saying, With our sons and our daughters, we are many. Let us take up grain for them, so that we may eat and live.

Some also were saying, We have mortgaged our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses; let us take up grain because of the famine.

And some were saying, We have borrowed silver for the king's tax, on our fields, and our vineyards,

yet now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers; as their sons, so are our sons; and, behold, we are bringing our sons and our daughters into bondage, to be slaves; yea, there are some of our daughters brought into bondage.And there is no power for our hand, and our fields and our vineyards are in the possession of other men.

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

Then my heart ruled within myself, and I contended with the nobles and the magistrates. And I said to them, You are each man lending at interest, from his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.

And I said to them, According to our ability we have redeemed our brothers, the Jews who were sold to the nations. And will you yet sell your brothers? Or shall they be sold to us? Then they were silent, and did not find a word.

Also I said, The thing you do is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?

Likewise, my brothers and my servants are lending them silver and grain. Now let us leave off this interest.

Now even today give back to them their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses; also the hundredth part of their silver, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that you have taken from them.

And they said, We will restore, and will ask nothing from them. So we will do as you say. Then I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to this word.

Also I shook my lap, and I said, So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor, who does not lift up this thing; even may he be shaken out this way and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this thing.