Neemias 5

14 In addition to this, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me as governor in the land of Judah, which was from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year, a total of twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food which was allocated to the governor. 15 But the governors before me had placed a heavy burden on the people, taking forty shekels of silver from them as well as food and wine. Their assistants also extorted the people. But because of my respect for God I didn’t act like that.

16 I also made rebuilding the wall my top priority, and I assigned all my workers to help with that. We didn’t acquire any land for ourselves. 17 I had 150 Jews and officials eating at my table, as well as visitors from nearby countries. 18 Every day I paid for one ox, six good sheep, and poultry. Every ten days I paid for a large supply of all kinds of wine. But I never demanded the governor’s food allowance, because the people were already carrying a heavy burden. 19 Please remember me positively, my God, for all that I’ve done for this people.