Nehemiah 5:14-19

International Children’s Bible

¹⁴ I was appointed governor in the land of Judah. This was in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ rule. I was governor till his thirty-second year. So I was governor of Judah for 12 years. During that time neither my brothers nor I ate the food that was allowed for the governor. ¹⁵ But the governors before me placed a heavy load on the people. They took about one pound of silver from each person. And they took food and wine. The governors’ helpers before me also controlled the people. But I did not do that because I feared God. ¹⁶ I worked on the wall. So did all my men who were gathered there. We did not buy any fields.

¹⁷ Also, I fed 150 Jews and officers at my table. And I fed those who came from the nations around us. ¹⁸ This is what was prepared every day for me and those who ate with me: one ox, six good sheep, and birds. And every ten days there were all kinds of wine. But I never demanded the food that was allowed for the governor. This was because the people were already working very hard.

¹⁹ Remember, my God, to be kind to me. Remember all the good I have done for these people.