1 Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their countrymen the Jews.2 For there were some who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are a great number: let us get grain, so that we may have food for our needs.3 And there were some who said, We are giving our fields and our vine-gardens and our houses for debt: let us get grain because we are in need.4 And there were others who said, We have given up our fields and our vine-gardens to get money for the king's taxes.5 But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children: and now we are giving our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants, and some of our daughters are servants even now: and we have no power to put a stop to it; for other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.6 And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry.7 And after turning it over in my mind, I made a protest to the chiefs and the rulers, and said to them, Every one of you is taking interest from his countryman. And I got together a great meeting of protest.8 And I said to them, We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free, who were servants and prisoners of the nations: and would you now give up your brothers for a price, and are they to become our property? Then they said nothing, answering not a word.9 And I said, What you are doing is not good: is it not the more necessary for you to go in the fear of our God, because of the shame which the nations may put on us?10 Even I and my servants have been taking interest for the money and the grain we have let them have. So now, let us give up this thing.11 Give back to them this very day their fields, their vine-gardens, their olive-gardens, and their houses, as well as a hundredth part of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil which you have taken from them.12 Then they said, We will give them back, and take nothing for them; we will do as you say. Then I sent for the priests and made them take an oath that they would keep this agreement.13 And shaking out the folds of my robe, I said, So may God send out from his house and his work every man who does not keep this agreement; even so let him be sent out and made as nothing. And all the meeting of the people said, So be it, and gave praise to the Lord. And the people did as they had said.14 Now from the time when I was made ruler of the people in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year till the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, for twelve years, I and my servants have never taken the food which was the right of the ruler.15 But earlier rulers who were before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver; and even their servants were lords over the people: but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.16 And I kept on with the work of this wall, and we got no land for ourselves: and all my servants were helping with the work.17 And more than this, a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers were guests at my table, in addition to those who came to us from the nations round about us.18 Now the food made ready for one day was one ox and six fat sheep, as well as fowls; and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine: but all the same, I did not take the food to which the ruler had a right, because the people were crushed under a hard yoke.19 Keep in mind, O my God, for my good, all I have done for this people.

1 Et factus est clamor populi et uxorum ejus magnus adversus fratres suos Judos. 2 Et erant qui dicerent : Filii nostri et fili nostr mult sunt nimis : accipiamus pro pretio eorum frumentum, et comedamus, et vivamus. 3 Et erant qui dicerent : Agros nostros, et vineas, et domus 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 nostr sunt : et sicut filii eorum, ita et filii nostri : ecce nos subjugamus filios nostros et filias nostras in servitutem, et de filiabus nostris sunt famul, nec habemus unde possint redimi : et agros nostros et vineas nostras alii possident. 6 Et iratus sum nimis cum audissem clamorem eorum secundum verba hc : 7 cogitavitque cor meum mecum, et increpavi optimates et magistratus, et dixi eis : Usurasne singuli a fratribus vestris exigitis ? Et congregavi adversum eos concionem magnam, 8 et dixi eis : Nos, ut scitis, redemimus fratres nostros Judos, qui venditi fuerant gentibus secundum possibilitatem nostram : et vos igitur vendetis fratres vestros, et redimemus eos ? Et siluerunt, nec invenerunt quid responderent. 9 Dixique ad eos : Non est bona res quam facitis : quare non in timore Dei nostri ambulastis, 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 : s alienum concedamus quod debetur nobis. 11 Reddite eis hodie agros suos, et vineas suas, et oliveta sua, et domos suas : quin potius et centesimum pecuni, frumenti, vini et olei, quam exigere soletis ab eis, date pro illis. 12 Et dixerunt : Reddemus, et ab eis nihil quremus : sicque faciemus ut loqueris. Et vocavi sacerdotes, et adjuravi eos ut facerent juxta quod dixeram. 13 Insuper excussi sinum meum, et dixi : Sic excutiat Deus omnem virum qui non compleverit 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 erat dictum.14 A die autem illa, qua prceperat rex mihi ut essem dux in terra Juda, ab anno vigesimo usque ad annum trigesimum secundum Artaxerxis regis per annos duodecim, ego et fratres mei annonas qu ducibus debebantur non comedimus. 15 Duces autem primi, qui fuerant ante me, gravaverunt populum, et acceperunt ab eis in pane, et vino, et pecunia, quotidie siclos quadraginta : sed et ministri eorum depresserunt populum. Ego autem non feci ita propter timorem Dei : 16 quin potius in opere muri dificavi, et agrum non emi, et omnes pueri mei congregati ad opus erant. 17 Judi quoque et magistratus centum quinquaginta viri, et qui veniebant ad nos de gentibus qu 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 qusivi : valde enim attenuatus erat populus. 19 Memento mei, Deus meus, in bonum, secundum omnia qu feci populo huic.