12. They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised.
13. I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!”The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the lord. And the people did as they had promised.
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—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 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!