Nehemiah 5:15-16

But the former governors who were [in office] before me put heavy burdens on the people and took food and wine from them in addition to forty shekels of silver [as an excessive monthly salary]; even their servants assumed authority over the people. But I did not do so because of the [reverent] fear of God. I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered together there for the work.