"Its abundantproduceis for the kingsWhomYou have setoverus because of our sins;They also ruleoverour bodiesAnd over our cattleas they please,So we are in greatdistress.
"Nowlet it be knownto the king,that ifthat cityis rebuiltand the wallsare finished,they will not paytribute,customor toll,and it will damagethe revenueof the kings.
"Moreover, I issuea decreeconcerning whatyou are to dofor theseeldersof Judahin the rebuildingof thishouseof God:the fullcostis to be paidto thesepeoplefrom the royaltreasuryout of the taxesof [the provinces] beyondthe River,and that withoutdelay.
"We also informyou that it is not allowedto imposetax,tributeor toll[on] anyof the priests,Levites,singers,doorkeepers,Nethinimor servantsof thishouseof God.
I saidto them, "We according to our abilityhave redeemedour Jewishbrotherswho were soldto the nations;now would you evensellyour brothersthat they may be soldto us?" Then they were silentand could not finda word[to say].
Our pursuersare at our necks;We are wornout, there is norestfor us.
I will setMy faceagainst you so that you will be struckdownbeforeyour enemies;and those who hateyou will ruleover you, and you will fleewhen nooneis pursuingyou.
They answeredHim, "We are Abraham'sdescendantsand have neveryetbeen enslavedto anyone;howis it that You say,'You will becomefree'?"
"A peoplewhomyou do not knowshall eatup the produceof your groundand allyour labors,and you will neverbe anythingbut oppressedand crushedcontinually.
"You shall plantand cultivatevineyards,but you will neitherdrinkof the winenorgather[the grapes], for the wormwill devourthem.
therefore you shall serveyour enemieswhomthe LORDwill sendagainst you, in hunger,in thirst,in nakedness,and in the lackof allthings;and He will putan ironyokeon your neckuntilHe has destroyedyou.
"Moreover, it shall eatthe offspringof your herdand the produceof your grounduntilyou are destroyed,whoalso leavesyou nograin,newwine,or oil,northe increaseof your herdor the youngof your flockuntilthey have caused you to perish.
