Add parallel Print Page Options

Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold,[a] we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5:5 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

Although we are of the same flesh and blood(A) as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery.(B) Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”(C)

When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!”(D) So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

Read full chapter