For therewere those whosaid,"We, our sonsand our daughtersare many;therefore let us getgrainthat we may eatand live."
[The people of] allthe earthcameto Egyptto buygrainfrom Joseph,becausethe faminewas severein allthe earth.
He said,"Behold,I have heardthat thereis grainin Egypt;godownthereand buy[some] for us from that place,so that we may liveand not die."
Judahsaidto his fatherIsrael,"Sendthe ladwith me and we will ariseand go,that we may liveand not die,we as wellas you and our littleones.
"Whyshould we diebefore your eyes,bothwe and our land?Buyus and our landfor food,and we and our landwill be slavesto Pharaoh.So giveus seed,that we may liveand not die,and that the landmay not be desolate."
Now a certainwomanof the wivesof the sonsof the prophetscriedout to Elisha,"Your servantmy husbandis dead,and you knowthat your servantfearedthe LORD;and the creditorhas cometo takemy twochildrento be his slaves."
Therewere others whosaid,"We are mortgagingour fields,our vineyardsand our housesthat we might getgrainbecause of the famine."
"You have sownmuch,but harvestlittle;[you] eat,but [there is] not [enough] to be satisfied;[you] drink,but [there is] not [enough] to becomedrunk;[you] puton clothing,but nooneis warm[enough]; and he who earns,earnswages[to put] into a pursewith holes."
"Ifyou do not listen,and ifyou do not takeit to heartto givehonorto My name,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"then I will sendthe curseupon you and I will curseyour blessings;and indeed,I have cursedthem [already], becauseyou are not taking[it] to heart.
"You shall not chargeinterestto your countrymen:intereston money,food,[or] anythingthat may be loanedat interest.
