Nehemiah:5:2-13
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For there were those who said , "
We ,
our sons ,
and our daughters are many ;
therefore let us get grain ,
that we may eat and live ."
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There were also some who said , "
We have mortgaged our lands and vineyards and houses ,
that we might buy grain because of the famine ."
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There were also those who said , "
We have borrowed money for the king '
s tax on 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 indeed we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves ,
and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery .
It is not in our power to redeem them ,
for other men have our lands and vineyards ."
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And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words .
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After serious thought ,
I rebuked the nobles and rulers ,
and said to them , "
Each of you is exacting usury from his brother ."
So I called a great assembly against them .
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And I said to them , "
According to our ability we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations .
Now indeed ,
will you even sell your brethren ?
Or should they be sold to us ?"
Then they were silenced and found nothing to say .
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Then I said , "
What you are doing is not good .
Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations ,
our enemies ?
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I also ,
with my brethren and my servants ,
am lending them money and grain .
Please ,
let us stop this usury !
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Restore now to them ,
even this day ,
their lands ,
their vineyards ,
their olive groves ,
and their houses ,
also a hundredth of the money and the grain ,
the new wine and the oil ,
that you have charged them ."
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So they said , "
We will restore it ,
and will require nothing from them ;
we will do as you say ."
Then I called the priests ,
and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise .
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Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said , "
So may God shake out each man from his house ,
and from his property ,
who does not perform this promise .
Even thus may he be shaken out and emptied ."
And all the assembly said , "
Amen !"
and praised the LORD .
Then the people did according to this promise .
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