8and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
9So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’ t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?
10I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.
11Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”
12“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised.
— Nehemiah 5:8-12