CAB(i)
1 And the cry of the people and their wives was great against their brothers the Jews.
2 And some said, We are numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take grain, and eat, and live.
3 And some said, As to our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge them, and we will take grain, and eat.
4 And some said, We have borrowed money for the king's tributes — our fields, and our vineyards, and houses are pledged.
5 And now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet behold, we are reducing our sons and our daughters to slavery, and some of our daughters are enslaved; and there is no power of our hands, for our fields and our vineyards belong to the nobles.
6 And I was very angry as I heard their cry and these words.
7 And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended against the nobles, and the princes, and I said to them, Should every man demand of his brother what you demand? And I appointed against them a great assembly,
8 and I said to them, We of our free will have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the Gentiles; and do you sell your brothers? And shall they be delivered to us? And they were silent, and found no answer.
9 And I said, The thing which you do is not good; you will not so walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Gentiles our enemies.
10 Both my brothers, and my acquaintances, and I, have lent them money and grain. Let us now leave off this usury!
11 Restore to them, I pray, as at this day, their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive yards, and their houses, and bring forth to them grain and wine and oil of the money.