6And I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7Then I thought it over, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact interest, from your own brother”. And I convened a great assembly against them. 8And I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the gentile nations; and will you even sell your brethren? Or have them sold to us?” Then they were silent, having nothing to answer. 9So I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10I likewise, my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and grain. I pray you, let us cease this charging of interest. 11Please restore, their lands, vineyards, olive yards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, to them this day that you exact of them”. 12Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; we will do as you say”. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13Also I shook my lap, and said, “So God shake out every man from His house, and from His labor, that does not keep this promise, even thus let him be shaken out, and emptied”. And all the congregation said, “Amen”, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

14Moreover, 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 Artaxerxes, the king, for twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the governor’s bread allowance. 15But the former governors who had been before me had laid a heavy burden upon the people, and had taken food and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants assumed authority over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16Yea, I also applied myself to the work of this wall, nor did we buy any land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17Moreover, there were at my table a hundred fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those who came to us from among the nations that are around us. 18Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; as well as fowls prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did demand the governor’s food, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.