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, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
15. But the former governors that were before me had been chargeable to the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver: even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not so, because of the fear of God
16. Yea, also I applied myself to this work of the wall, and we bought no fields; and all my servants were gathered thither for the work.
17. And there were at my table a hundred and fifty of the Jews and the rulers, besides those that came to us from among the nations that were about us.