But it came to pass, that when Sanballat{H5571} heard{H8085}{(H8804)} that we builded{H1129}{(H8802)} the wall{H2346}, he was wroth{H2734}{(H8799)}, and took great{H7235}{(H8687)} indignation{H3707}{(H8799)}, and mocked{H3932}{(H8686)} the Jews{H3064}.

And he spake{H559}{(H8799)} before{H6440} his brethren{H251} and the army{H2428} of Samaria{H8111}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, What do{H6213}{(H8802)} these feeble{H537} Jews{H3064}? will they fortify{H5800}{(H8799)} themselves? will they sacrifice{H2076}{(H8799)}? will they make an end{H3615}{(H8762)} in a day{H3117}? will they revive{H2421}{(H8762)} the stones{H68} out of the heaps{H6194} of the rubbish{H6083} which are burned{H8313}{(H8803)}?

Now Tobiah{H2900} the Ammonite{H5984} was by him{H681}, and he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Even that which they build{H1129}{(H8802)}, if a fox{H7776} go up{H5927}{(H8799)}, he shall even break down{H6555}{(H8804)} their stone{H68} wall{H2346}.

Hear{H8085}{(H8798)}, O our God{H430}; for we are despised{H939}: and turn{H7725}{(H8685)} their reproach{H2781} upon their own head{H7218}, and give{H5414}{(H8798)} them for a prey{H961} in the land{H776} of captivity{H7633}:

And cover{H3680}{(H8762)} not their iniquity{H5771}, and let not their sin{H2403} be blotted out{H4229}{(H8735)} from before{H6440} thee: for they have provoked thee to anger{H3707}{(H8689)} before the builders{H1129}{(H8802)}.

So built{H1129}{(H8799)} we the wall{H2346}; and all the wall{H2346} was joined together{H7194}{(H8735)} unto the half{H2677} thereof: for the people{H5971} had a mind{H3820} to work{H6213}{(H8800)}.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat{H5571}, and Tobiah{H2900}, and the Arabians{H6163}, and the Ammonites{H5984}, and the Ashdodites{H796}, heard{H8085}{(H8804)} that the walls{H2346} of Jerusalem{H3389} were made up{H724}{H5927}{(H8804)}, and that the breaches{H6555}{(H8803)} began{H2490}{(H8689)} to be stopped{H5640}{(H8736)}, then they were very{H3966} wroth{H2734}{(H8799)},

And conspired{H7194}{(H8799)} all of them together{H3162} to come{H935}{(H8800)} and to fight{H3898}{(H8736)} against Jerusalem{H3389}, and to hinder{H6213}{(H8800)}{H8442} it.

Nevertheless we made our prayer{H6419}{(H8691)} unto our God{H430}, and set{H5975}{(H8686)} a watch{H4929} against them day{H3119} and night{H3915}, because{H6440} of them.

And Judah{H3063} said{H559}{(H8799)}, The strength{H3581} of the bearers of burdens{H5449} is decayed{H3782}{(H8804)}, and there is much{H7235}{(H8687)} rubbish{H6083}; so that we are not able{H3201}{(H8799)} to build{H1129}{(H8800)} the wall{H2346}.

And our adversaries{H6862} said{H559}{(H8799)}, They shall not know{H3045}{(H8799)}, neither see{H7200}{(H8799)}, till we come{H935}{(H8799)} in the midst{H8432} among{H8432} them, and slay{H2026}{(H8804)} them, and cause the work{H4399} to cease{H7673}{(H8689)}.

And it came to pass, that when the Jews{H3064} which dwelt{H3427}{(H8802)} by them{H681} came{H935}{(H8804)}, they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto us ten{H6235} times{H6471}, From all places{H4725} whence ye shall return{H7725}{(H8799)} unto us they will be upon you.

Therefore set{H5975}{(H8686)} I in the lower{H8482} places{H4725} behind{H310} the wall{H2346}, and on the higher places{H6706}{(H8675)}{H6708}, I even set{H5975}{(H8686)} the people{H5971} after their families{H4940} with their swords{H2719}, their spears{H7420}, and their bows{H7198}.

And I looked{H7200}{(H8799)}, and rose up{H6965}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the nobles{H2715}, and to the rulers{H5461}, and to the rest{H3499} of the people{H5971}, Be not ye afraid{H3372}{(H8799)} of them{H6440}: remember{H2142}{(H8798)} the Lord{H136}, which is great{H1419} and terrible{H3372}{(H8737)}, and fight{H3898}{(H8734)} for your brethren{H251}, your sons{H1121}, and your daughters{H1323}, your wives{H802}, and your houses{H1004}.

And it came to pass, when our enemies{H341}{(H8802)} heard{H8085}{(H8804)} that it was known{H3045}{(H8738)} unto us, and God{H430} had brought{H6565} their counsel{H6098} to nought{H6565}{(H8686)}, that we returned{H7725}{(H8799)} all of us to the wall{H2346}, every one{H376} unto his work{H4399}.

And it came to pass from that time{H3117} forth, that the half{H2677} of my servants{H5288} wrought{H6213}{(H8802)} in the work{H4399}, and the other half{H2677} of them held{H2388}{(H8688)} both the spears{H7420}, the shields{H4043}, and the bows{H7198}, and the habergeons{H8302}; and the rulers{H8269} were behind{H310} all the house{H1004} of Judah{H3063}.

They which builded{H1129}{(H8802)} on the wall{H2346}, and they that bare{H5375}{(H8802)} burdens{H5447}, with those that laded{H6006}{(H8802)}, every one with one{H259} of his hands{H3027} wrought{H6213}{(H8802)} in the work{H4399}, and with the other{H259} hand held{H2388}{(H8688)} a weapon{H7973}.

For the builders{H1129}{(H8802)}, every one{H376} had his sword{H2719} girded{H631}{(H8803)} by his side{H4975}, and so builded{H1129}{(H8802)}. And he that sounded{H8628}{(H8802)} the trumpet{H7782} was by me{H681}.

And I said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the nobles{H2715}, and to the rulers{H5461}, and to the rest{H3499} of the people{H5971}, The work{H4399} is great{H7235}{(H8687)} and large{H7342}, and we are separated{H6504}{(H8737)} upon the wall{H2346}, one{H376} far from{H7350} another{H251}.

In what place{H4725} therefore ye hear{H8085}{(H8799)} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet{H7782}, resort{H6908}{(H8735)} ye thither unto us: our God{H430} shall fight{H3898}{(H8735)} for us.

So we laboured{H6213}{(H8802)} in the work{H4399}: and half{H2677} of them held{H2388}{(H8688)} the spears{H7420} from the rising{H5927}{(H8800)} of the morning{H7837} till the stars{H3556} appeared{H3318}{(H8800)}.

Likewise at the same time{H6256} said{H559}{(H8804)} I unto the people{H5971}, Let every one{H376} with his servant{H5288} lodge{H3885}{(H8799)} within{H8432} Jerusalem{H3389}, that in the night{H3915} they may be a guard{H4929} to us, and labour{H4399} on the day{H3117}.

So neither I, nor my brethren{H251}, nor my servants{H5288}, nor the men{H582} of the guard{H4929} which followed{H310} me, none of us{H587} put off{H6584}{(H8802)} our clothes{H899}, saving that every one{H376} put them off{H7973} for washing{H4325}.