¹⁴ Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. ¹⁵ But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels^[a] of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God. ¹⁶ Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work. ¹⁷ Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, in addition to those who came to us from among the nations that were around us. ¹⁸ Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn’t demand the governor’s pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people. ¹⁹ Remember me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.