Nehemiah 5:1-5

Each Usury Is Forsaken

Then ^athere was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their ^bJewish brothers. 2 Now there were those who were saying, “We, with our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore let us ^aget grain that we may eat and live.” 3 There were others who were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses, that we might get grain because of the famine.” 4 Also there were those who were saying, “We have borrowed money ^afor the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 But now ^aour flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, ^bwe are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into subjugation, and we have no power in our hands to help, and our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

Nehemiah 5:8-10

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8 I said to them, “We, according to our ability, ^ahave bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; and now would you also sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say. 9 And I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of ^athe reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 And likewise I, my brothers, and my young men are lending them money and grain. Please, let us forsake this usury.