Nehemiah 5:15-17

New Catholic Bible

¹⁵ On the other hand, the former governors, my predecessors, had laid a heavy burden on the people and exacted from them forty shekels of silver each day for food and wine, while their servants also oppressed the people. However, because I feared God, I did not act in this way.

¹⁶ Indeed, I devoted all my efforts to the work on the wall, and I acquired no land, while all my servants were gathered there for the work. ¹⁷ Moreover, there sat at my table guests who numbered one hundred and fifty people, Jews and officials, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations.