Nehemiah:5

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* Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren . * For there were those who said , "With our sons and our daughters , we are many ; let us get grain , that we may eat and keep alive ." * There were also those who said , "We are mortgaging our fields , our vineyards , and our houses to get grain because of the famine ." * And there were those who said , "We have borrowed money for the king 's tax upon our fields and our vineyards . * Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren , our children are as their children ; yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves , and some of our daughters have already been enslaved ; but it is not in our power to help it , for other men have our fields and our vineyards ." * I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words . * I took counsel with myself , and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials . I said to them , "You are exacting interest , each from his brother ." And I held a great assembly against them , * and said to them , "We , as far as we are able , have bought back our Jewish brethren who have been sold to the nations ; but you even sell your brethren that they may be sold to us !" They were silent , and could not find a word to say . * So I said , "The thing that you are doing is not good . Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies ? * Moreover I and my brethren and my servants are lending them money and grain . Let us leave off this interest . * Return to them this very day their fields , their vineyards , their olive orchards , and their houses , and the hundredth of money , grain , wine , and oil which you have been exacting of them ." * Then they said , "We will restore these and require nothing from them . We will do as you say ." And I called the priests , and took an oath of them to do as they had promised . * I also shook out my lap and said , "So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise . So may he be shaken out and emptied ." And all the assembly said "Amen " and praised the LORD . 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 to the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx 'es the king , twelve years , neither I nor my brethren ate the food allowance of the governor . * The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens upon the people , and took from them food and wine , besides forty shekels of silver . Even their servants lorded it over the people . But I did not do so , because of the fear of God . * I also held to the work on this wall , and acquired no land ; and all my servants were gathered there for the work . * Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty men , Jews and officials , besides those who came to us from the nations which were about us . * Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep ; fowls likewise were prepared for me , and every ten days skins of wine in abundance ; yet with all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor , because the servitude was heavy upon this people . * Remember for my good , O my God , all that I have done for this people .

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