14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from ^tthe twentieth year to ^uthe thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, ^vneither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.

15 The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration¹ forty shekels² of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, ^wbecause of the fear of God.