Social Injustice

1There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. 2Some were saying, “We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.” 3Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.”a 4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s taxb on our fields and vineyards.c 5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery.d Some of our daughters are already enslaved,e but we are powerlessf because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6I became extremely angryg when I heard their outcry and these complaints. 7After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, “Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.”h So I called a large assembly against them 8and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.”i They remained silent and could not say a word.j 9Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the •fear of our Godk and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies?l 10Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest.m 11Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentagen of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oilo that you have been assessing them.”

12They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them.p We will do as you say.”

So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oathq to do this. 13I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken outr and have nothing! ”

The whole assembly said, “•Amen,” and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised.s

Good and Bad Governors

14Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxest appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah — from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 yearsu — I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. 15The governorsv who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a poundw of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God.x 16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall,y and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land.z

17There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table.aa 18Eachab day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every 10 days.ac But I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

19Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.ad