1 NOW THERE arose a great cry of the [poor] people and of their wives [driven to borrowing] against their Jewish brethren [the few who could afford to lend].
2 For some said, We, our sons and daughters, are many; therefore allow us to take grain, that we may eat and live! If we are not given grain, let us take it!
3 Also some said, We are mortgaging our lands, vineyards, and houses to buy grain because of the scarcity.
4 Others said, We have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards to pay the [Persian] king's heavy tax.
5 Although our flesh is the same as that of our brethren and our children are as theirs, yet we are forced to sell our children as slaves; some of our daughters have already been thus sold, and we are powerless to redeem them, for others have our lands and vineyards.