1Some of the men and their wives complained about the Jews in power
2and said, “We have large families, and it takes a lot of grain merely to keep us alive.”
3Others said, “During the famine we even had to mortgage our fields, vineyards, and homes to them in order to buy grain.”
4Then others said, “We had to borrow money from those in power to pay the government tax on our fields and vineyards.
5We are Jews just as they are, and our children are as good as theirs. But we still have to sell our children as slaves, and some of our daughters have already been raped. We are completely helpless; our fields and vineyards have even been taken from us.”
6When I heard their complaints and their charges, I became very angry.
7 was king until the thirty-second year. And during these entire twelve years, my relatives and I refused to accept the food that I was allowed.
15Each governor before me had been a burden to the people by making them pay for his food and wine and by demanding forty silver coins a day. Even their officials had been a burden to the people. But I respected God, and I didn't think it was right to be so hard on them.
16I spent all my time getting the wall rebuilt and did not buy any property. Everyone working for me did the same thing.
17I usually fed 150 of our own Jewish people and their leaders, as well as foreign visitors from surrounding lands.
18Each day one ox, six of the best sheep, and lots of chickens were prepared. Then every ten days, a large supply of wine was brought in. I knew what a heavy burden this would have been for the people, and so I did not ask for my food allowance as governor.
19I pray that God will bless me for everything I have done for my people.
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