16:005:012 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing
of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the
priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do
according to this promise.
16:005:013 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from
his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the
congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people
did according to this promise.
16:005:014 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their
governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even
unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that
is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread
of the governor.
16:005:015 But the former governors that had been before me were
chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and
wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants
bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the
fear of God.
16:005:016 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought
we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto
the work.
16:005:017 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the
Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the
heathen that are about us.
16:005:018 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
16:005:019 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
16:006:001 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
16:006:002 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us
meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono.
But they thought to do me mischief.