And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

And the outcry of [the poor of] the people and their wives was great against their brother Jews [(the rich, who refused to feed them)].

For there were those who said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore let us get corn, that we may eat, and live.

Some of them said [(i.e., they cried out to the rich Jews)]: [With] our sons and daughters we are [too] many [to survive. We will have to sell them] to buy grain in order to eat and live!

Some also there were who said, We have mortgaged our lands, our vineyards, and our houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

And some said: We will [have to] pawn our fields and our vineyards and our houses to buy grain in (our) hunger!

There were also those who said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

And some said: We have [already] borrowed money (on) our fields and vineyards to [pay] the king's taxes [(and we have nothing left to feed ourselves with)]!

Yet now our flesh is as good as the flesh of our brethren, our children as good as their children: and, lo, we press our sons and our daughters into slavery, and some of our daughters are pressed into slavery already: nor is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

And now, [just as good] as our [rich] brothers' flesh is our flesh! [Just as good as] their sons are our sons! And, behold, we will have to impress our sons and daughters as slaves; and some of our daughters are [already] impressed, and we have not the wherewithal [to redeem them]. And our fields and vineyards [have already been given] to others [for food, and what shall we eat now!]

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

And I was greatly troubled when I heard their cries and these things.

Then I took counsel with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said to them, You make claims for debt, everyone of his brother! And I held a great assembly against them.

And my heart counseled me, and I quarreled with the nobles and the officers and said to them: You are exacting payment, each of his brother, [(by lending the poor in order to impress their sons and daughters and take their fields, their vineyards, and their houses.)] And I congregated against them a great crowd [(of the poor to cry out against them and shame them.)]

And I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the heathen; and will you nevertheless sell your brethren? or shall they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and found nothing to answer.

And I said to them: We have [already] bought back our brother Jews [in captivity] who had been sold to the gentiles, with whatever [money] we had; yet you, too, would sell your brothers [impressed under you, to the gentiles], and [in the end] they would be sold to us [i.e., we would have to buy them back!] And they were [struck] silent [in shame] and they found nothing [to say].

Also I said, That which you do is not good: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God because of the insult of the heathen our enemies?

And I said: This thing that you do is not good [(before the L-rd)]. Would you not pursue the fear of G d in the face of the shame of [i.e., your being shamed by] the gentiles, our foes!

I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, have lent them money and corn: I pray you, let us release this debt.

And I, too, (and) my brethren and my youths are their creditors in money and in grain, and we shall now waive this debt [(and you follow our example!)]

Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the percentage of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that you exact of them.

Return to them, now, as of this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and most of the money and the grain and the wine and the oil wherein you are their creditors.

Then they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayst. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

And they said: We shall return (it) and we shall ask nothing of them. We shall do exactly as you have said. And I called the priests and I beswore them to do as this thing [i.e., to waive their loans].

Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, who does not perform this promise, even thus may he be shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.

I also shook out my hem and said: So shall G d shake out every man who does not fulfill this thing, of his house and of his toil [i.e., his possessions], and thus shall he remain shaken out and empty. And all the congregation said "Amen!" and they praised the L-rd, and the people did according to this thing [i.e., as they had averred.]

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Yehuda, from the twentieth year even to the thirty second year of Artaĥshasta the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Also, from the day that he [(the king)] charged me to be governor of the land of Judah, from the twentieth year [(of the reign of King Darius, at which time Nechemiah went up from Bavel [viz. chapter 2])] until the thirty-second year of Artachshast [Darius] the king — twelve years — I and my brethren have not eaten the governor's bread [(a perquisite of the collection of taxes for the king)].

But the former governors who had been before me laid burdens upon the people, and had taken of them for bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants bore rule over the people: but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

And the governors before me had imposed heavy [taxes] upon the people and had taken from them [for this service to the king] bread and wine, on top of forty silver shekels. And their youths, too, had lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, out of fear of G-d.

For I also continued in the work of this wall, nor did we buy any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.

And I also was [constantly] preoccupied with the work of this wall, and we [(I and my co-workers)] did not buy a field [(of the Jews building the wall wherewith to compensate them for their labors, but I paid them from my own funds)], and all of my youths were gathered there over the work.

Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers, besides those who came to us from among the nations who were round about us.

And, at my table were the Jews [(of the people)] and the officers, a hundred and fifty men, (aside from those [i.e., the proselytes] who came to us from the nations around us.)

Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I did not demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

And, one day's fare was one ox (and) five stuffed sheep; and [an abundance of] fowl was prepared for me. And [every day we drank] enough wine for ten days. And, notwithstanding all this [i.e., all these expenses], I did not request [(from the people)] the governor's bread, for the work [of the wall] was heavy on this people.

Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Remember unto me, my G-d, for good, all that I have done with this people.