1But it came to pass, that when Sanballat5571 heard8085 that we builded1129 the wall2346, he was wroth2734, and took great7235 indignation3707, and mocked3932 the Jews3064.
2And he spake559 before6440 his brethren251 and the army2428 of Samaria8111, and said559, What do6213 these feeble537 Jews3064? will they fortify5800 themselves? will they sacrifice2076? will they make an end3615 in a day3117? will they revive2421 the stones68 out of the heaps6194 of the rubbish6083 which are burned8313?
3Now Tobiah2900 the Ammonite5984 was by him681, and he said559, Even that which they build1129, if a fox7776 go up5927, he shall even break down6555 their stone68 wall2346.
4Hear8085, O our God430; for we are despised939: and turn7725 their reproach2781 upon their own head7218, and give5414 them for a prey961 in the land776 of captivity7633:
5And cover3680 not their iniquity5771, and let not their sin2403 be blotted out4229 from before6440 thee: for they have provoked thee to anger3707 before the builders1129.
6So built1129 we the wall2346; and all the wall2346 was joined together7194 unto the half2677 thereof: for the people5971 had a mind3820 to work6213.
7But it came to pass, that when Sanballat5571, and Tobiah2900, and the Arabians6163, and the Ammonites5984, and the Ashdodites796, heard8085 that the walls2346 of Jerusalem3389 were made up724 5927, and that the breaches6555 began2490 to be stopped5640, then they were very3966 wroth2734,
8And conspired7194 all of them together3162 to come935 and to fight3898 against Jerusalem3389, and to hinder6213 8442 it.
9Nevertheless we made our prayer6419 unto our God430, and set5975 a watch4929 against them day3119 and night3915, because6440 of them.
10And Judah3063 said559, The strength3581 of the bearers of burdens5449 is decayed3782, and there is much7235 rubbish6083; so that we are not able3201 to build1129 the wall2346.
11And our adversaries6862 said559, They shall not know3045, neither see7200, till we come935 in the midst8432 among8432 them, and slay2026 them, and cause the work4399 to cease7673.
12And it came to pass, that when the Jews3064 which dwelt3427 by them681 came935, they said559 unto us ten6235 times6471, From all places4725 whence ye shall return7725 unto us they will be upon you.
13Therefore set5975 I in the lower8482 places4725 behind310 the wall2346, and on the higher places6706 6708, I even set5975 the people5971 after their families4940 with their swords2719, their spears7420, and their bows7198.
14And I looked7200, and rose up6965, and said559 unto the nobles2715, and to the rulers5461, and to the rest3499 of the people5971, Be not ye afraid3372 of them6440: remember2142 the Lord136, which is great1419 and terrible3372, and fight3898 for your brethren251, your sons1121, and your daughters1323, your wives802, and your houses1004.
15And it came to pass, when our enemies341 heard8085 that it was known3045 unto us, and God430 had brought6565 their counsel6098 to nought6565, that we returned7725 all of us to the wall2346, every one376 unto his work4399.
16And it came to pass from that time3117 forth, that the half2677 of my servants5288 wrought6213 in the work4399, and the other half2677 of them held2388 both the spears7420, the shields4043, and the bows7198, and the habergeons8302; and the rulers8269 were behind310 all the house1004 of Judah3063.
17They which builded1129 on the wall2346, and they that bare5375 burdens5447, with those that laded6006, every one with one259 of his hands3027 wrought6213 in the work4399, and with the other259 hand held2388 a weapon7973.
18For the builders1129, every one376 had his sword2719 girded631 by his side4975, and so builded1129. And he that sounded8628 the trumpet7782 was by me681.
19And I said559 unto the nobles2715, and to the rulers5461, and to the rest3499 of the people5971, The work4399 is great7235 and large7342, and we are separated6504 upon the wall2346, one376 far from7350 another251.
20In what place4725 therefore ye hear8085 the sound6963 of the trumpet7782, resort6908 ye thither unto us: our God430 shall fight3898 for us.
21So we laboured6213 in the work4399: and half2677 of them held2388 the spears7420 from the rising5927 of the morning7837 till the stars3556 appeared3318.
22Likewise at the same time6256 said559 I unto the people5971, Let every one376 with his servant5288 lodge3885 within8432 Jerusalem3389, that in the night3915 they may be a guard4929 to us, and labour4399 on the day3117.
23So neither I, nor my brethren251, nor my servants5288, nor the men582 of the guard4929 which followed310 me, none of us587 put off6584 our clothes899, saving that every one376 put them off7973 for washing4325.