1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them , that we may eat, and live. 3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 ¶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. 8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer . 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. 12 Then said they, We will restore them , and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
14 ¶ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is , twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. 16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. 17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. 18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
1 et factus est clamor populi et uxorum eius magnus
adversus fratres suos iudaeos
2 et erant qui dicerent
filii nostri et filiae nostrae multae sunt nimis
accipiamus pro pretio eorum frumentum
et comedamus et vivamus
3 et erant qui dicerent
agros nostros et vineas et domos nostras opponamus
et accipiamus frumentum in fame
4 et alii dicebant
mutuo sumamus pecunias in tributa regis
demusque agros nostros et vineas
5 et nunc sicut carnes fratrum nostrorum sic carnes nostrae sunt
sicut filii eorum ita filii nostri
ecce nos subiugamus filios nostros et filias nostras in servitutem
et de filiabus nostris sunt famulae
nec habemus unde possint redimi
et agros nostros et vineas alii possident
6 et iratus sum nimis
cum audissem clamorem eorum secundum verba haec
7 cogitavitque cor meum mecum
et increpui optimates et magistratus et dixi eis
usurasne singuli a fratribus vestris exigatis
et congregavi adversus eos contionem magnam
8 et dixi eis
nos ut scitis redemimus fratres nostros iudaeos
qui venditi fuerant gentibus
secundum possibilitatem nostram
et vos igitur vendite fratres vestros
et emimus eos
et siluerunt nec invenerunt quid responderent
9 dixique ad eos non est bona res quam facitis
quare non in timore Dei nostri ambulatis
ne exprobretur nobis a gentibus inimicis nostris
10 et ego et fratres mei et pueri mei
commodavimus plurimis pecuniam et frumentum
non repetamus in commune istud aes alienum
concedamus quod debetur nobis
11 reddite eis hodie agros suos
vineas suas oliveta sua et domos suas
quin potius et centesimam pecuniae frumenti vini et olei
quam exigere soletis ab eis date pro illis
12 et dixerunt reddimus
et ab eis nihil quaerimus
sicque faciemus ut loqueris
et vocavi sacerdotes et adiuravi eos ut facerent iuxta quod dixeram
13 insuper et sinum meum excussi et dixi
sic excutiat Deus omnem virum qui non conpleverit verbum istud
de domo sua et de laboribus suis
sic excutiatur et vacuus fiat
et dixit universa multitudo amen et laudaverunt Deum
fecit ergo populus sicut dictum erat
14 a die autem illa qua praeceperat mihi
ut essem dux in terra Iuda
ab anno vicesimo usque ad annum tricesimum secundum Artarxersis regis
per annos duodecim
ego et fratres mei annonas quae ducibus debebantur non comedimus
15 duces autem primi qui fuerant ante me
gravaverunt populum
et acceperunt ab eis in pane vino et
pecunia
cotidie siclos quadraginta
sed et ministri eorum depresserant populum
ego autem non feci ita propter timorem Dei
16 quin potius in opere muri aedificavi
et agrum non emi
et omnes pueri mei congregati ad opus erant
17 Iudaei quoque et magistratus centum quinquaginta viri
et qui veniebant ad nos de gentibus quae in circuitu nostro sunt
in mensa mea erant
18 parabatur autem mihi per dies singulos
bos unus arietes sex electi exceptis volatilibus
et inter dies decem vina diversa
et alia multa tribuebam
insuper et annonas ducatus mei non quaesivi
valde enim erat adtenuatus populus
19 memento mei Deus meus in bonum
secundum omnia quae feci populo huic