12 Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do just as you say.” Then I summoned the kohanim and I made them swear to do according to this promise.
13 Also I shook out my garment, and said, “In this way may God shake out from His house and from His property every one that does not keep this promise. In this way may he be shaken out and emptied!” And all the assembly replied, “Amen!” and they praised Adonai. So the people did according to this promise.
14 Moreover, from the day when I was appointed to be the governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes—twelve years—neither I, nor my relatives have eaten the bread allocated to the governor.
15 The earlier governors, those preceding me, placed heavy burdens on the people, and took bread and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their attendants also lorded over the people. But I did not do so, out of fear of God.
16 Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall, without even buying a field. All my attendants were gathered there for the work.
17 Furthermore, 150 Judeans and officials, as well as those that came to us from the nations around us, were at my table.
18 Now, each day one ox and six choice sheep, as well as some fowl, were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundance of every kind of wine was prepared. Despite all this, I did not require the governor’s food allowance, because the work was already heavy on this people.