Neh. 5:1‑19• 1{i}And there was a great{/i} cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2{i}And there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many, and we must procure corn that we may eat and live.{/i}
3{i}And there were that said,{/i} We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards and houses that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5Yet 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 {i}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.{/i}
6{i}And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.{/i}
7{i}And I consulted with myself; and I{/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.
8And 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.
9Also 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{i}I also, my brethren and my servants, we might exact usury of them, money and corn. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.{/i}
11{i}Restore, 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.{/i}
12Then 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.
13Also 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 Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.
14Moreover, 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.
15But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17Moreover, there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers besides those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18Now 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.
19Think upon me, my God, for good; according to all that I have done for this people. (Neh. 5:1‑19)
Matt. 18:27‑30,35• 27And the lord of the bondman, moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
28But that bondman, on going out, found one of his fellow-bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii, and having laid hold he was grasping his throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
29His fellow-bondman then, falling at his feet, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.
30And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay what was owing.
35Thus also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if ye forgive not from your hearts each his brother. (Matt. 18:27‑30,35)