But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Some also said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses. Let us buy grain because of the famine.

And I said, What you do is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

But the former governors that had been before me were too heavy upon the people, and had taken bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not do this, because of the fear of God.

And that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep; and birds were prepared; and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did not seek the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

And, behold, I understood that God had not sent him, but that he said this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

For many in Judah were sworn to him because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

And all the people went to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words which were declared to them.

And it yields much increase to the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

And because of all this we are cutting a sure covenant, and write it, and our princes, Levites, and priests are sealing it.

because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them so that he should curse them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.