6. I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.
7. I pondered them in my heart and then I opposed the nobles and the officials, saying to them, “Usury! Each of you is putting his brother in debt!” So I convened a great assembly to deal with them.
8. I said to them, “As much as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who had been sold to the nations. Now you also are selling your brothers so that they will be sold back to us?” Then they became silent and could not find anything to say.
9. Then I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good! Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, in order to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
10. Even I, my brothers, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let this usury stop, now!
11. Now, return to them this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, as well as the hundredth that you have extracted from them on the money, the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil.”
12. Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do just as you say.” Then I summoned the kohanim and I made them swear to do according to this promise.