Nehemiah’s Generosity

¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah (from the twentieth year even until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes) twelve years had passed. And my companions and I had not eaten the governor’s food allotment. ¹⁵ The former governors preceding me had extracted a heavy burden on the people, because they took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels^[a] of silver. Moreover, even their servants domineered over the people. But I myself never did so, because of the fear of God. ¹⁶ Furthermore, I stayed determined in the work on this wall. We bought no field, and all my servants were gathered there for the sake of the work.

¹⁷ Moreover there were regularly at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. ¹⁸ Daily there were one ox and six choice sheep prepared for me. Fowls were also prepared for me. Once in ten days all sorts of wine were supplied in abundance. Yet for all this, I never required the governor’s food allotment because it was a heavy burden on this people.

¹⁹ Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.