8. and said, “As far as we have been able, we have been buying back our Jewish relatives who had to sell themselves to foreigners. Now you are forcing your own relatives to sell themselves to you, their own people!” The leaders were silent and could find nothing to say.
9. Then I said, “What you are doing is wrong! You ought to obey God and do what's right. Then you would not give our enemies, the Gentiles, any reason to ridicule us.
10. I have let the people borrow money and corn from me, and so have my companions and the people who work for me. Now let's give up all our claims to repayment.
11. Cancel all the debts they owe you — money or corn or wine or olive oil. And give them back their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses at once!”
12. The leaders replied, “We'll do as you say. We'll give the property back and not try to collect the debts.”I called in the priests and made the leaders swear in front of them to keep the promise they had just made.
13. Then I took off the sash I was wearing round my waist and shook it out. “This is how God will shake any of you who don't keep your promise,” I said. “God will take away your houses and everything you own, and will leave you with nothing.”Everyone who was present said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. And the leaders kept their promise.
14. During all the twelve years that I was governor of the land of Judah, from the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor until his 32nd year, neither my relatives nor I ate the food I was entitled to have as governor.