Nehemiah 5

¹Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their countrymen the Jews.

²For there were some who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are a great number: let us get grain, so that we may have food for our needs.

³And there were some who said, We are giving our fields and our vine-gardens and our houses for debt: let us get grain because we are in need.

⁴And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.

⁵But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children: and now we are giving our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants, and some of our daughters are servants even now: and we have no power to put a stop to it; for other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.

⁶And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry.

⁷And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest.

⁸And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word.

⁹And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our God, because of the shame which the nations may put on us?

¹⁰Even I and my servants have been taking interest for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give up this thing.