13 (A)I also shook out the fold[a] of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” (B)And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

Nehemiah's Generosity

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from (C)the twentieth year to (D)the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, (E)neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. 15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration[b] forty shekels[c] of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, (F)because of the fear of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 5:13 Hebrew bosom
  2. Nehemiah 5:15 Compare Vulgate; Hebrew took from them for food and wine after
  3. Nehemiah 5:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

13 I also shook(A) out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”

At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,”(B) and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(C) when I was appointed to be their governor(D) in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. 15 But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God(E) I did not act like that.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 5:15 That is, about 1 pound or about 460 grams