Nehemiah showed them that he himself, being invested with authority from the Persian king, might have demanded large contributions for his personal benefit. But instead of this he had not taken even that which justly belonged to him, but had given liberally to relieve the poor in their need. He urged those among the Jewish rulers who had been guilty of extortion, to cease this iniquitous work; to restore the lands of the poor, and also the increase of money which they had exacted from them; and to lend to them without security or usury.

Nehemias foreholdt dem, at han selv kunne have krævet store summer i kraft af den stilling, som perserkongen havde givet ham. Det havde han ikke gjort, ja, han havde ikke engang krævet det, som med rette tilkom ham, men havde givet rundhåndede gaver for at hjælpe de fattige. Han opfordrede de jødiske forstandere, som havde udbyttet deres landsmænd, til at ophøre hermed samt give de fattige deres jord tilbage, tilbagebetale de renter, som de havde taget af dem, og låne dem, hvad de behøvede, uden at kræve pant eller tage renter.