Nehemiah:5:1-11
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And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews .
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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 .
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Some also there were that said ,
We have mortgaged our lands ,
vineyards ,
and houses ,
that we might buy corn ,
because of the dearth .
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There were also that said ,
We have borrowed money for the king '
s tribute ,
and that upon our lands and vineyards .
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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 .
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And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words .
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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 .
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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 .
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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 ?
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I likewise ,
and my brethren ,
and my servants ,
might exact of them money and corn :
I pray you ,
let us leave off this usury .
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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 .