If it's not one thing, it's another! We were finally making progress again on the wall. Meanwhile, we still had to stay on our guard from Sanballat and his "associates", as they liked to call themselves.
Now there's grumbling about corruption in the house. Who had time to make a buck off his brother? You can't be serious!
Now there's grumbling about corruption in the house. Who had time to make a buck off his brother? You can't be serious!
And what's up with some fat cats selling folks to other countries? Hadn't we just used everything we could scrape together to buy back the ones who'd been sold into slavery?
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.
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
And boy, did I let them have it! Some of these folks were getting on my last nerve. I laid it on the line, and made them swear to the priests that they'd play it straight from then on.
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?
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 was ready to snap! Did you hear me say twelve years? Twelve years, people! And remember the sweet deal I had going in Susa?
I didn't know how much more I could take.
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
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