Nehemiah 5:13-15

Modern English Version

¹³ Also I shook out the front of my garment and said, “Like this, may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not carry out this promise. Exactly like this, may he be shaken out and emptied.”

And all the congregation said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.

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.