13. Then I took off the sash I was wearing round my waist and shook it out. “This is how God will shake any of you who don't keep your promise,” I said. “God will take away your houses and everything you own, and will leave you with nothing.”Everyone who was present said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. And the leaders kept their promise.
14. During all the twelve years that I was governor of the land of Judah, from the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor until his 32nd year, neither my relatives nor I ate the food I was entitled to have as governor.
15. Every governor who had been in office before me had been a burden to the people and had demanded forty silver coins a day for food and wine. Even their servants had oppressed the people. But I acted differently, because I honoured God.
16. I put all my energy into rebuilding the wall and did not acquire any property. Everyone who worked for me joined in the rebuilding.
17. I regularly fed at my table 150 of the Jewish people and their leaders, besides all the people who came to me from the surrounding nations.
18. Every day I served one ox, six of the best sheep, and many chickens, and every ten days I provided a fresh supply of wine. But I knew what heavy burdens the people had to bear, so I did not claim the allowance that the governor is entitled to.