6 When I heard their complaints about these things, I was very angry.
7 I thought about it. Then I accused the important people and the leaders. I told them, “You are charging your own brothers too much interest.” So I called a large meeting to deal with them.
8 I said to them, “Our fellow Jews had been sold to non-Jewish nations. But, as much as possible, we have bought them back. Now you are making your fellow Jews sell themselves to us!” The leaders were quiet. They had nothing to say.
9 Then I said, “What you are doing is not right. You should live in fear of God. Don’t let our non-Jewish enemies shame us.
10 I, my brothers and my men are also lending money and grain to the people. But stop charging them too much for this!
11 Give back their fields, vineyards, olive trees and houses right now. Also give them back the extra amount you charged them. That is the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil.”
12 They said, “We will give it back. And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”Then I called for the priests. And I made the important men and leaders promise to do what they had said.