Now there's grumbling about corruption in the house. Who had time to make a buck off his brother? You can't be serious!
This brand of crazy had to stop. We'd never get the wall, much less the rest of Jerusalem, rebuilt if people die from hunger or were sold off to who knows where.
I got really angry when I heard their protest and complaints. After thinking it over, I called the nobles and officials on the carpet. I said, “Each one of you is gouging his brother.”
Then I called a big meeting to deal with them.
Nehemiah 5: 6-7 MSG
Because here's the deal: for twelve long years I had never tapped the groceries set aside for somebody in my position and his fam. Not only was I paying for my house, but guess who was putting up the big dogs from other countries?
Oh, and here's the best part: guess whose feet were under my table eating my bought and paid for groceries at least once a week? Those same big shots who'd been charging their neighbors out the wazoo for bread. Seriously?
But out of fear of God I did none of that. I had work to do; I worked on this wall. All my men were on the job to do the work. We didn’t have time to line our own pockets.
Nehemiah 5: 16 MSG
I didn't know how much more I could take.
O my God, please keep in mind all that I’ve done for these people and bless me for it. TLB