of Judah, I and my relatives did not eat the food which was
my right as governor. But the governors who were before me were an
expense to the people and took from them bread and wine and forty pieces
of silver each day. Their servants also were cruel to the people. But I
did not do so, for I feared God. I also gave myself to the work on the
wall, and we did not buy any land, but all my servants were gathered
there for work. Also a hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside
those who came to us from other nations, were fed at my table. Each day
one ox and six choice sheep and fowls were prepared at my expense, and
once in ten days plenty of wine for all. Yet with all this expense, I
did not demand the food which was due me as governor, because the public
work was a heavy burden upon this people. Remember to my credit, O my
God, all that I have done for them!

JONAH THE NARROW-MINDED PATRIOT

This message from Jehovah came to Jonah, the son of Amittai: "Arise, go
to that great city, Nineveh, and preach against it; for their wickedness
is known to me." But Jonah started to flee to Tarshish from the presence
of Jehovah. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So
he paid the fare and went aboard to go with them to Tarshish from the
presence of Jehovah.

But Jehovah made a furious wind blow over the sea, and there was such a
great storm that the ship was in danger of breaking to pieces. Then the
sailors were afraid and each cried for help to his own god. They threw
into the sea the things that were in the ship, in order to make it
lighter. But Jonah had gone down into the bottom of the ship and lay
fast asleep. Then the captain of the ship went and said to him, "How is
it that you are asleep? Call on your god; perhaps that god will think of
us, so that we may not be lost."

And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know
on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the
lot fell upon Jonah. Then they said to him, "Tell us, what is your
business, and where do you come from? What is your country and to what
race do you belong?" He said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and a worshipper
of Jehovah, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then
the men were greatly frightened and said to him, "What is this you have
done?" For they knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah,
because he had told them.

Then they said to him, "What shall w