Nehemiah 5:14-19
New American Standard Bible
Nehemiah’s Example
14 Furthermore, since the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from (A)the twentieth year to the (B)thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance. 15 But the previous governors who were before me [a]laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so (C)because of my fear of God. 16 I also [b]applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, (D)there were at my table 150 Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now (E)that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep; also birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all sorts of wine were provided in abundance. Yet for all this (F)I did not request the governor’s food allowance, because the forced labor was heavy on this people. 19 (G)Remember me, my God, for good, in return for all that I have done for this people.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Nehemiah 5:15 Lit made heavy
- Nehemiah 5:16 Or held fast
Nehemiah 5:14-19
New Living Translation
14 For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes[a]—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. 15 The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces[b] of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.
16 I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall. 17 I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! 18 The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden.
19 Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
