KJV ORIGINAL
I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
I myself, along with my brothers and my servants, could also charge interest and demand money and grain from them. But please, let's stop charging this interest.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Nehemiah is asking his fellow leaders to stop charging unfair interest to poor fellow Jews, even though he admits he could do the same thing.
📚 Historical Context
Nehemiah was the Jewish governor rebuilding Jerusalem's walls around 445 BC. During this time, wealthy Jews were charging excessive interest (usury) to their poorer countrymen who needed loans for food and taxes. This practice was creating severe hardship and even forcing some families to sell their children into slavery to pay their debts.
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