And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

Now there was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt].

Still others were saying "We've borrowed money against our fields and vineyards to pay the king's taxes.

I accused them, "To the best of our ability, we've been buying back our fellow Jews who had been sold to foreigners. Even now you're selling your fellow countrymen, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet and never spoke a word.

So today please restore to them their fields, vineyards, olive orchards, and homes, along with the one percent interest charge that you've assessed them on the grain, wine, and oil."

"Remember me with favor, my God, for everything I've done for this people."

I sent word back to him, "Nothing has happened as you've claimed. You're making up these charges in your imagination."

Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.

Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

So now, our God—the great, mighty,
and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant—
do not view lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us,
our kings and leaders,
our priests and prophets,
our ancestors and all Your people,
from the days of the Assyrian kings until today.

In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.