Nehemiah 5:2-7

2For there were those who said, “We, our sons, and our daughters are many; therefore let’s 1get 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 2for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5And now 3our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, 4we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and 5we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

6Then I was very 6angry 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, “7You are lending at interest, each to his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.