百姓和他們的妻大大呼號，埋怨他們的弟兄
Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
百姓和他們的妻大大呼號，埋怨他們的弟兄
Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
有的說：「我們和兒女人口眾多，要去得糧食度命」；
For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”
有的說：「我們典了田地、葡萄園、房屋，要得糧食充飢」；
There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”
有的說：「我們已經指著田地、葡萄園，借了錢給王納稅。
And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.
我們的身體與我們弟兄的身體一樣；我們的兒女與他們的兒女一般。現在我們將要使兒女作人的僕婢，我們的女兒已有為婢的；我們並無力拯救，因為我們的田地、葡萄園已經歸了別人。」
Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
我聽見他們呼號說這些話，便甚發怒。
I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
我心裏籌劃，就斥責貴冑和官長說：「你們各人向弟兄取利！」於是我招聚大會攻擊他們。
I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them
我對他們說：「我們盡力贖回我們弟兄，就是賣與外邦的
and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.
我又說：「你們所行的不善！你們行事不當敬畏我們的神嗎？不然，難免我們的仇敵外邦人毀謗我們。
So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?
我和我的弟兄與僕人也將銀錢糧食借給百姓；我們大家都當免去利息。
Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.
如今我勸你們將他們的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園、房屋，並向他們所取的銀錢、糧食、新酒，和油，百分之一的利息都歸還他們。」
Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”
眾人說：「我們必歸還，不再向他們索要，必照你的話行。」我就召了祭司來，叫眾人起誓，必照著所應許的而行。
Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.
我也抖著胸前的衣襟，說：「凡不成就這應許的，願神照樣抖他離開家產和他勞碌得來的，直到抖空了。」會眾都說：「阿們！」又讚美耶和華。百姓就照著所應許的去行。
I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
自從我奉派作
Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.
在我以前的省長加重百姓的擔子，每日索要糧食和酒，並銀子四十舍客勒，就是他們的僕人也轄制百姓；但我因敬畏神不這樣行。
The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
並且我恆心修造城牆，並沒有置買田地；我的僕人也都聚集在那裏做工。
I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.
除了從四圍外邦中來的
Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.
每日預備一隻公牛，六隻肥羊，又預備些飛禽；每十日一次，多預備各樣的酒。雖然如此，我並不要省長的俸祿，因為百姓服役甚重。
Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.
我的神啊，求你記念我為這百姓所行的一切事，施恩與我。
Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.