Study Desk

Furthermore, since the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from ^(C1)the twentieth year to the ^(C2)thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance.

But the previous governors who were before me ^(F1)laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so ^(C1)because of my fear of God.

I also ^(F1)applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

Moreover, ^(C1)there were at my table 150 Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.

Now ^(C1)that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep; also birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all sorts of wine were provided in abundance. Yet for all this ^(C2)I did not request the governor's food allowance, because the forced labor was heavy on this people.

^(C1)Remember me, my God, for good, in return for all that I have done for this people.