Nehemiah 5:7 — Meaning and Application

Yet now our flesh {is} as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and {some} of our daughters are brought unto bondage {already}: neither {is it} in our power {to redeem them}; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me}

And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing {to answer}.

Also I said, It {is} not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?