Nehemiah 5:1-7 ▼

1 Now the people along with their spouses complained loudly against their fellow Jews,

2 because certain of them kept claiming, |Since we have so many sons and daughters, we must get some grain so we can eat and survive.|

3 Others were saying, |We're having to mortgage our fields, our vineyards, and our homes so we can buy grain during this famine.|

4 Still others were saying |We've borrowed money against our fields and vineyards to pay the king's taxes.

5 Now our bodies are no different than the bodies of our relatives, and our children are like their children. Nevertheless, we're about to force our sons and daughters into slavery, and some of our daughters are already in bondage. It's beyond our power to do anything about it, because our fields and vineyards belong to others.|

6 I became very livid when I heard their complaining and these charges.

7 So after thinking it over carefully, I accused the officials and nobles openly, |Every one of you is charging your fellow countrymen interest!| So I opened a public investigation against them.