The Book of Nehemiah continues the narrative of the return from the Babylonian exile, focusing on the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. The book also describes the religious and social reforms implemented by Nehemiah in conjunction with Ezra, including the public reading of the Law and the renewal of the covenant. It is recognized as canonical by all major Christian traditions and by Judaism.
2 Ezra (Nehemiah)
Chapter 5
Then there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
For there were some who said, "We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live."
Some also said, "We are mortgaging our fields and our vineyards and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine."
There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our fields and our vineyards."
I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, "You exact usury, everyone of his brother." I held a great assembly against them.
I said to them, "We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations. Would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?" Then they held their peace, and found never a word.
Also I said, "What you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them."
Then they said, "We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say." Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
Also I shook out my lap, and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, who doesn't perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out and emptied." All the assembly said, "Amen," and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God.
Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn't buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work.
Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.
Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn't demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.