Neh. 5:2‑13• 2And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.
3And there were that said, We have had to pledge our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses, that we might procure corn in the dearth.
4And there were that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute upon our fields and vineyards;
5yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children; and behold, we must bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already; neither is it in the power of our hand to redeem them, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7And I consulted with myself; and I remonstrated with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother! And I set a great assembly against them.
8And I said to them, We, according to our ability, have redeemed our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? And they were silent and found no answer.
9And I said, The thing that ye do is not good. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, so as not to be the reproach of the nations our enemies?
10I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11Restore, I pray you, to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive-gardens, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine and the oil, that ye have exacted of them.
12And they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, as thou hast said. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house and from his earnings, that performeth not this promise: even thus be he shaken out and emptied! And all the congregation said, Amen! And they praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise. (Neh. 5:2‑13)
Prov. 24:11‑12• 11Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work. (Prov. 24:11‑12)