en_tn/neh/05/12.md

Then they said

Here "they" refers to the Jewish nobles.

We will return what we took from them

The nobles are saying they will return the money which the poorer Jews paid in interest charges.

We will do as you say

"We" refers to the nobles who are speaking to Nehemiah.

Then I called

"I" refers to Nehemiah.

and made them swear

"and made the Jewish nobles take an oath"

I shook out the fold of my robe

Many times in the Old Testament, oaths were physically demonstrated as a witness to what was promised. Nehemiah is demonstrating to the nobles what will happen if they break the promise they had made.

and they praised Yahweh

AT: "and they worshipped Yahweh"

And the people did as they had promised

AT: "and all the person kept their promises."