Nehemiah 5:1-8

1Now 1there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their 2Jewish brothers. 2For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let’s 3get grain so that we may eat and live.” 3And there were others who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses so that we might get grain because of the famine.” 4There also were those who said, “We have borrowed money 4for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5And now 5our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, 6we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and 7we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6Then I was very 8angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7So I thought it over and contended with the nobles and the leading people, and said to them, “9You are lending at interest, each to his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. 8And I said to them, “We, according to our ability, 10have 11redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.