尼希米处理官长们的剥削
百姓和他们的妻子大大呼号，埋怨他们的弟兄犹太人。
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2有的说：“我们和儿女人口众多，必须得粮食吃，才能活下去。”For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3有的说：“我们典押了田地、葡萄园、房屋，才得粮食充饥。”Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4有的说：“我们借了钱付田地和葡萄园的税给王。There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5现在，我们的身体与我们弟兄的身体是一样的，我们的儿女与他们的儿女没有差别。看哪，我们却要迫使儿女作人的奴婢。我们有些女儿已被抢走了，我们却无能为力，因为我们的田地和葡萄园已经归了别人。”Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6我听见他们的呼号和这些话，就非常愤怒。And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7我心里作了决定，就斥责贵族和官长，对他们说：“你们各人借钱给弟兄，竟然索取利息！”于是我召开大会攻击他们。Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8我对他们说：“我们已尽力赎回我们的弟兄，就是卖到列国的犹太人；你们还要卖弟兄，让我们去买回来吗？”他们就静默不语，无话可答。And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9我又说：“你们做的这事不对！你们行事不是应该敬畏我们的神，免得列国我们的仇敌毁谤我们吗？Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10我和我的弟兄仆人也要把银钱粮食借给百姓，大家都当免除利息。I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11就在今日，你们要把他们的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园、房屋，以及向他们所取银钱的利息☛“银钱的利息”或译“百分之一的银钱”。、粮食、新酒和新油都归还他们。”Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12贵族和官长说：“我们必归还，不再向他们索取，必照你所说的去做。”我就召了祭司来，叫贵族和官长起誓，必照这话去做。Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13我也抖着胸前的衣袋，说：“凡不实行这话的，愿神照样抖他离开他的家和他劳碌得来的，直到抖空了。”全会众都说：“阿们！”又赞美耶和华。百姓就照着这话去做。Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
尼希米大公无私
14自从我奉派作犹大地省长的那日，就是从亚达薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我与我弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15在我以前的省长加重百姓的负担，向百姓索取粮食和酒，以及四十舍客勒银子☛“向百姓...银子”：有古译本是“每日向百姓索取粮食、酒、四十舍客勒银子”。，甚至他们的仆人也辖制百姓，但我因敬畏神不这样做。But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16我也努力修造城墙。我们并没有购置田地，我所有的仆人也都聚集在那里做工。Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17除了从四围列国来的人以外，有犹太人和官长一百五十人与我同席。Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18每日预备一头公牛、六只肥羊，又为我预备飞禽；每十日一次多多预备各样的酒。虽然如此，我并不索取省长的俸禄，因为这百姓负的劳役很重。Now that which was prepared for me daily 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 required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
19我的神啊，求你记念我为这百姓所做的一切，施恩于我。Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.