Leadership Verses

So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, {saving that} every one put them off for washing. {saving...: or, every one went with his weapon for water}

There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, {and that upon} our lands and vineyards.

Yet now our flesh {is} as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and {some} of our daughters are brought unto bondage {already}: neither {is it} in our power {to redeem them}; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me}

I likewise, {and} my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

Wherein {was} written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith {it, that} thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. {Gashmu: also called, Geshem}