⁹ No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?” ^(A)

⁴³ You are not to rule over them harshly^(A) but fear your God.

¹⁵ The governors^(A) who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound^[a] of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but because of the fear of God, I didn’t do this.^(B)