| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. | 1There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. |
| 2Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” | 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, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” | 3Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine." |
| 4Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. | 4Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. |
| 5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” | 5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others." |
| 6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, | 6I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. |
| 7and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them | 7After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, "Each of you is charging his countrymen interest." So I called a large assembly against them |
| 8and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say. | 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." They remained silent and could not say a word. |
| 9So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? | 9Then I said, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? |
| 10I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. | 10Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. |
| 11Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.” | 11Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them." |
| 12“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised. | 12They responded: "We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say." So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. |
| 13I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. | 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 out and have nothing!" The whole assembly said, "Amen," and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised. |
| 14Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. | 14Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah--from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years--I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. |
| 15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people, but I did not do this because of my fear of God. | 15The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn't do this, because of the fear of God. |
| 16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land. | 16Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn't buy any land. |
| 17There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. | 17There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table. |
| 18Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. | 18Each 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. But I didn't demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy. |
| 19Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people. | 19Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people. |
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