1There was a major vibe check from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

2Some were like, "Us and our kids are a lot, so we need to grab some corn to eat and live, fr."

3Others were saying, "We had to mortgage our lands, vineyards, and houses just to buy corn 'cause it's dry out here."

4And some were like, "We borrowed cash for the king’s taxes on our lands and vineyards."

5But now our flesh is just like our bros, and our kids are like their kids: we’re putting our sons and daughters into servitude, and some of our girls are already stuck in that grind; we can't even save them 'cause other dudes own our stuff.

6I was super mad when I heard their cries and these words, periodt.

7So I had a heart-to-heart with myself, called out the nobles and rulers, and was like, "Y'all are charging interest on your own brothers!" Then I gathered a big squad against them.

8I told them, "We've redeemed our fellow Jews sold to the outsiders; are you really gonna sell your own? Or should they be sold back to us?" They were quiet and had no comeback.

9I said, "What you're doing is sus; shouldn't you be fearing our God 'cause of the outsiders' rep?"

10I could've also charged them money and corn, but I'm asking y'all to stop this usury, no cap.

11"Please give back their lands, vineyards, oliveyards, and houses today, plus the extra cash, corn, wine, and oil you took from them."

12They were like, "Bet, we’ll give it back and won’t ask for anything in return; we’ll do what you say." So I called the priests and got them to swear they’d stick to this promise.

13I shook out my lap and said, "May God shake out any dude from his house and job who doesn’t keep this promise; let him be empty." Everyone in the crowd said, "Amen," and praised the Lord. They followed through on the promise.

14From the moment I became their governor in Judah, for twelve years from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, I and my bros didn't munch on the governor's bread.

15The governors before me were taxing the people, taking their bread and wine, plus forty shekels of silver; their servants were running the show, but I wasn’t about that life 'cause I feared God.

16I kept grinding on this wall, didn’t buy any land, and all my servants were there working too.

17Plus, I had 150 Jews and rulers at my table, not counting those who came to us from the outsiders around us.

18What I had daily was one ox and six choice sheep, plus birds were prepped for me, and every ten days I had a stash of all kinds of wine; but still, I didn’t take the governor's bread, 'cause the people were struggling hard.

19Remember me, my God, for good, based on all I’ve done for these people.

1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2For 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.

3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5Yet 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.

6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

7Then 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.

8And 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.

9Also 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?

10I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11Restore, 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.

12Then 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.

13Also 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.

14Moreover 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.

15But 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.

16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

17Moreover 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.

18Now 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.

19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.