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Jewish Nobles and Officials: 12 We will give everything back. And in the future, nothing more will be demanded from them. We will do everything you have said.

I called the priests to join us and had these men make oaths before the gathering so that they would be held accountable to do what they promised. 13 I shook out my robe.

Nehemiah: May the True God likewise shake out from his house and his property anyone who fails to keep his word. May he then be shaken out also, until he, too, is emptied.

Everyone who had gathered in our assembly to witness this praised the Eternal and gave their benediction saying, “So may it be.”

All the people did as they promised. 14 As long as I had been appointed governor in Judah—for the 12 years from the 20th to the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes’ reign over the Persian Empire—no one in my family took a salary from the food tax the empire levied.

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12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”

Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath(A) to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook(B) out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”

At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,”(C) and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

14 Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(D) when I was appointed to be their governor(E) in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

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