And the outcry of the people and of their wives was great against their Yehudiy brothers.

And there were some saying, 'Our sons and our daughters, we are many, and let us take grain and eat and live.'

And there were some saying, 'Our fields and our vineyards and our houses, we are pledging, and let us take grain in the famine.'

And there were some saying, 'We have borrowed silver for the king's tax, our fields and our vineyards.'

And now, like our flesh, our flesh; like our sons, our sons. And behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced, and our hand is not able, and our fields and our vineyards are for others.

And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

And my heart deliberated within me, and I contended with the nobles and the officials, and I said to them, 'You are exacting usury, each man from his brother.' And I convened against them a great assembly.

And I said to them, 'We have bought our Yehudiy brothers who were sold to the nations, as much as was in our power, and you yourselves also sell your brothers, and they are sold to us.' And they were silent, and they did not find a word.

And I said, 'The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our Elohim, because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?'

And I also, my brothers and my young men, are exacting silver from them. Let us please abandon this exaction.

Please return to them today their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and the hundredth of the silver, and the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are exacting from them.

And they said, 'We will return, and from them we will not demand.' So we will do as you say. And I called the priests, and I made them swear to do this thing.

Also, I shook out my garment, and I said, 'So may Elohim shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not uphold this word. And so may he be shaken out and empty.' And all the assembly said, 'Amen,' and they praised יהוה. And the people did according to this word.

Also, from the day that he commanded me to be governor in the land of Yehudah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artakhasashta, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the governor's provisions.

But the former governors who were before me burdened the people, and they took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Also their young men ruled over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of Elohim.

And also in the work of this wall I took hold, and we did not acquire a field, and all my young men were gathered there for the work.

And the Yehudim and the officials, one hundred and fifty men, and those who came to us from the nations that were around us, were at my table.

And what was prepared for one day: one ox, six choice sheep, and birds were prepared for me. And within ten days, much new wine. And with all this, I did not request the governor's provisions, because the burden of this people was heavy.

Remember for me, my Elohim, for good, all that I have done for this people.