5:14 From the day that I was appointed 1 governor 2 in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes – twelve years in all – neither I nor my relatives 3 ate the food allotted to the governor. 4 5:15 But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to 5 forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God. 5:16 I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing 6 a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.
5:17 There were 150 Jews and officials who dined with me routinely, 7 in addition to those who came to us from the nations 8 all around us. 5:18 Every day one ox, six select sheep, and some birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Despite all this I did not require the food allotted to the governor, for the work was demanding on this people.
5:19 Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
1 tc The BHS editors suggest reading צֻוֵּאתִי (tsuvve’ti, “and I was appointed”) rather than the reading of the MT, אֹתִי צִוָּה (tsivvah ’oti, “he appointed me”).
2 tc The translation reads with one medieval Hebrew
3 tn Heb “brothers.”
4 tn Heb “the food of the governor.” Cf. v. 18.
5 tc The Hebrew term אַחַר (’akhar) is difficult here. It normally means “after,” but that makes no sense here. Some scholars emend it to אַחַד (’akhad) and supply the word “day,” which yields the sense “daily.” Cf. TEV “40 silver coins a day for food and wine.”
6 tn Heb “we did not purchase.”
7 tn Heb “who were gathered around us at my table.”
8 tn Or “from the Gentiles.” The same Hebrew word can refer to “the Gentiles” or “the nations.” Cf. the phrase in 6:16.