12 They responded, “We will return these things and require nothing more from them.(A) We will do as you say.”

So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath(B) to do this. 13 I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out(C) and have nothing!”

The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.(D)

Good and Bad Governors

14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes(E) appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years(F)—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor.

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