1窮人的呼喊那時，民眾和他們的妻子大聲呼冤，控告自己的同胞猶大人。
1Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
2有些人說：“我們和兒女人口眾多，給我們五穀餬口，可以存活。”
2For there were that said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”
3有些人說：“我們抵押了自己的田地、葡萄園和房屋，為要在饑荒中買到五穀。”
3Some also there were that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”
4有些人說：“我們為了要借錢向王納稅，只好抵押了我們的田地和葡萄園。
4There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.
5雖然我們的身體與我們同胞的身體一樣，我們的兒女與他們的兒女也相同，可是我們卻要強迫自己的兒女去作僕婢，而且我們的女兒有些已經作了奴婢，我們卻無能為力，因為我們的田地和葡萄園已經屬於別人了。”
5Yet 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 help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
6尼希米怒斥官長與領袖我聽見他們的哀叫和所講的這些事，就十分忿怒。
6I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7我心中籌算一番以後，就譴責貴族和官長，對他們說：“你們各人向自己的同胞貸款，竟然索取高利！”於是我召開大會攻擊他們。
7Then 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.
8我對他們說：“我們已盡了我們的能力，把那些賣了給外族人的同胞猶大人買贖回來，而你們還想要出賣你們的同胞，好讓我們再把他們買回來嗎？”他們都默不作聲，無話可說。
8I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found never a word.
9我又說：“你們這事作得不對。你們豈不應懷著敬畏我們 神的心行事為人，免遭我們的仇敵外族人的毀謗嗎？
9Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
10現在我和我的兄弟，以及我的僕人要把銀錢和五穀借給他們。讓我們大家都放棄放債取利吧！
10I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.
11請你們今天就把他們的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園、房屋，以及你們向他們索取的利息：百分之一的利錢、五穀、新酒和新油，都歸還給他們。”
11Please restore to them, even this day, 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.”
12他們就說：“我們必定歸還，不再向他們要求利息了，你怎麼說，我們願意照著你說的去行。”我就把祭司們召了來，叫眾人起誓必照著這話去行。
12Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
13我抖著胸前的衣襟說：“不履行這話的，願 神也是這樣抖他離開他的家和產業，直到抖空。”全體會眾都說：“阿們！”又讚美耶和華。眾人都照著這話去行。
13Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that 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.
14尼希米清廉樸實自從我奉命在猶大地作他們省長的日子以來，就是從亞達薛西王二十年，直到三十二年，共十二年，我和我的兄弟都沒有吃過省長的俸祿。
14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15在我們以先的前任省長，重壓人民，每日都向他們索取糧食和酒，以及四百五十六克銀子。連他們的僕人也轄制人民，但我因為敬畏 神，就不這樣行。
15But 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.
16我堅持只重修城牆的工程；所以我們不購置田產，我所有的僕人也都聚集在那裡工作。
16Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.
17在我桌上吃飯的，有一百五十個猶大人和官長，還有那些從我們四圍外族來到我們這裡的人；
17Moreover 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.
18每天預備牛一頭、肥羊六隻，又為我預備一些飛禽；每十天供應大量各類的酒。雖然這樣，我仍然沒有索取省長的俸祿，因為這些人服役已經負擔沉重。
18Now 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 didn’t demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
19“我的 神啊，求你記念我，記念我為這人民所作的一切事，施恩給我。”
19Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.