Study Desk

Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.

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

For there were those who said, "We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let's get grain so that we may eat and live."

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.

And there were others who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so that we might get grain because of the famine."

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

There also were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.

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

"And now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others."

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.

Then I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

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

So I thought it over and contended with the nobles and the leading people, and said to them, "You are lending at interest, each to his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

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.

And I said to them, "We, according to our ability, have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?" Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.

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.

So I said, "The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the taunting of the nations, our enemies?

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?

"And likewise I, my brothers, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let's do without this interest.

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

"Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, as well as the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are charging as interest from them."

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.

Then they said, "We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say." So I called the priests and made them take an oath to act in accordance with this promise.

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.

I also shook out the front of my garment and said, "So may God shake out every person from his house and from his possessions who does not keep this promise; just so may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised the LORD. Then the people acted in accordance with 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.