Nehemiah 4

Work Is Ridiculed

11Now it came about that when 2Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. 2He spoke in the presence of his brothers and 3the 4wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the 56dusty rubble even the burned ones?” 3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building--7if a fox should 8jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!”

49Hear, O our God, how we are despised! 10Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. 5Do not 1112forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have 13demoralized the builders.

6So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a 14mind to work.

715Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the 16repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. 8All of them 17conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.

Discouragement Overcome

9But we prayed to our God, and because of them we 18set up a guard against them day and night.

10Thus 19in Judah it was said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much 20rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.” 11Our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” 12When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “21They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,” 13then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the 22exposed places, and I 23stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. 14When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “24Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and 25fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

15When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that 26God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. 16From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. 17Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. 18As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while 27the trumpeter stood near me. 19I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. 20At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, 28rally to us there. 29Our God will fight for us.”

21So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from 30dawn until the stars 31appeared. 22At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.” 23So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.