1 And there was a great 1419 cry 6818 of the people 5971 and of their wives 802 against their brethren 251 the Jews 3064.
2 For there were 3426 that said 559, We, our sons 1121, and our daughters 1323, are many 7227: therefore we take up 3947 corn 1715 for them, that we may eat 398, and live 2421.
3 Some also there were 3426 that said 559, We have mortgaged 6148 our lands 7704, vineyards 3754, and houses 1004, that we might buy 3947 corn 1715, because of the dearth 7458.
4 There were 3426 also that said 559, We have borrowed 3867 money 3701 for the king's 4428 tribute 4060, and that upon our lands 7704 and vineyards 3754.
5 Yet now our flesh 1320 is as the flesh 1320 of our brethren 251, our children 1121 as their children 1121: and, lo, we bring into bondage 3533 our sons 1121 and our daughters 1323 to be servants 5650, and some of our daughters 1323 are 3426 brought unto bondage 3533 already: neither is it in our power 410 3027 to redeem them; for other men 312 have our lands 7704 and vineyards 3754.
6 And I was very 3966 angry 2734 when I heard 8085 their cry 2201 and these words 1697.
7 Then I consulted 4427 with myself 3820, and I rebuked 7378 the nobles 2715, and the rulers 5461, and said 559 unto them, Ye exact 5378 5383 5375 usury 4855, every one 376 of his brother 251. And I set 5414 a great 1419 assembly 6952 against them.
8 And I said 559 unto them, We after our ability 1767 have redeemed 7069 our brethren 251 the Jews 3064, which were sold 4376 unto the heathen 1471; and will ye even sell 4376 your brethren 251? or shall they be sold 4376 unto us? Then held they their peace 2790, and found 4672 nothing 1697 to answer.
9 Also I said 559, It is not good 2896 that 1697 ye do 6213: ought ye not to walk 3212 in the fear 3374 of our God 430 because of the reproach 2781 of the heathen 1471 our enemies 341?
10 I likewise, and my brethren 251, and my servants 5288, might exact 5383 of them money 3701 and corn 1715: I pray you, let us leave off 5800 this usury 4855.
11 Restore 7725, I pray you, to them, even this day 3117, their lands 7704, their vineyards 3754, their oliveyards 2132, and their houses 1004, also the hundredth 3967 part of the money 3701, and of the corn 1715, the wine 8492, and the oil 3323, that ye exact 5383 of them.
12 Then said 559 they, We will restore 7725 them, and will require 1245 nothing of them; so will we do 6213 as thou sayest 559. Then I called 7121 the priests 3548, and took an oath 7650 of them, that they should do 6213 according to this promise 1697.
13 Also I shook 5287 my lap 2684, and said 559, So God 430 shake out 5287 every man 376 from his house 1004, and from his labour 3018, that performeth 6965 not this promise 1697, even thus be he shaken out 5287, and emptied 7386. And all the congregation 6951 said 559, Amen 543, and praised 1984 the LORD 3068. And the people 5971 did 6213 according to this promise 1697.
14 Moreover from the time 3117 that I was appointed 6680 to be their governor 6346 in the land 776 of Judah 3063, from the twentieth 6242 year 8141 even unto the two 8147 and thirtieth 7970 year 8141 of Artaxerxes 783 the king 4428, that is, twelve 8147 6240 years 8141, I and my brethren 251 have not eaten 398 the bread 3899 of the governor 6346.
15 But the former 7223 governors 6346 that had been before 6440 me were chargeable 3513 unto the people 5971, and had taken 3947 of them bread 3899 and wine 3196, beside 310 forty 705 shekels 8255 of silver 3701; yea, even 1571 their servants 5288 bare rule 7980 over the people 5971: but so did 6213 not I, because 6440 of the fear 3374 of God 430.
16 Yea, also I continued 2388 in the work 4399 of this wall 2346, neither bought 7069 we any land 7704: and all my servants 5288 were gathered 6908 thither unto the work 4399.
17 Moreover there were at my table 7979 an hundred 3967 and fifty 2572 376 of the Jews 3064 and rulers 5461, beside those that came 935 unto us from among the heathen 1471 that are about us 5439.
18 Now that which was prepared 6213 for me daily 3117 was one 259 ox 7794 and six 8337 choice 1305 sheep 6629; also fowls 6833 were prepared 6213 for me, and once in ten 6235 days 3117 store 7235 of all sorts of wine 3196: yet for all 5973 this required 1245 not I the bread 3899 of the governor 6346, because the bondage 5656 was heavy 3513 upon this people 5971.
19 Think 2142 upon me, my God 430, for good 2896, according to all that I have done 6213 for this people 5971.