| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. | 1About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. |
| 2Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain." | 2Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” |
| 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, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” |
| 4Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow 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. |
| 5Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our 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 to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.” |
| 6When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. | 6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry, |
| 7I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are charging your own people interest!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them | 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 |
| 8and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. | 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. |
| 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 Gentile enemies? | 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? |
| 10I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! | 10I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury. |
| 11Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them--one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil." | 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.” |
| 12"We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. | 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. |
| 13I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised. | 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. |
| 14Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year--twelve years--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 his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. |
| 15But the earlier governors--those preceding me--placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. | 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. |
| 16Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. | 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. |
| 17Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. | 17There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations. |
| 18Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. | 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. |
| 19Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people. | 19Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people. |
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