Quotes About Responsibility

Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.

When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138 in all.

In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”

Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.

And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.

Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was the kingís agent in every matter concerning the people.

Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.

So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,

I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,

When Estherís words were relayed to Mordecai,

he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the kingís palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fatherís house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Even if I have truly gone astray, my error concerns me alone.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?

For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.