Nehemiah 2:8-18

8and a letterH107 to AsaphH623 the keeperH8104 of the king’sH4428 1forestH6508, that he may giveH5414 me timberH6086 to makeH7136 beamsH7136 for the gatesH8179 of 2the fortressH1002 whichH834 is by the 3templeH1004, for the wallH2346 of the cityH5892 and for the houseH1004 to whichH834 I will goH935.” And the kingH4428 grantedH5414 them to me because 4the goodH2896 handH3027 of my GodH430 was on me.

9Then I cameH935 to 5the governorsH6346 of the provinces beyondH5676 the RiverH5104 and gaveH5414 them the king’sH4428 lettersH107. Now 6the kingH4428 had sentH7971 with me officersH8269 of the armyH2428 and horsemenH6571. 10When 7SanballatH5571 the HoroniteH2772 and TobiahH2900 the AmmoniteH5984 8officialH5650 heardH8085 about it, it was veryH7463H1419 displeasingH7489 to them that someoneH120 had comeH935 to seekH1245 the welfareH2899 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478.

11So I 9cameH935 to JerusalemH3389 and was thereH8033 threeH7969 daysH3117. 12And I aroseH6965 in the nightH3915, I and a fewH4592 menH376 with me. I did not tellH5046 anyoneH120 whatH4100 my GodH430 was puttingH5414 into my 10mindH3820 to doH6213 for JerusalemH3389 and thereH369 was noH369 animalH929 with me exceptH3588H518 the animalH929 on whichH834 I was ridingH7392. 13So I wentH3318 out at nightH3915 by 11the ValleyH1516 GateH8179 in the directionH6440 of the Dragon’sH5886 WellH5886 and on to the 12RefuseH830 GateH8179, inspectingH7663 the wallsH2346 of JerusalemH3389 13whichH834 were brokenH6555 downH6555 and its 14gatesH8179 which were consumedH398 by fireH784. 14Then I passedH5674 on to 15the FountainH5871 GateH8179 and 16the King’sH4428 PoolH1295, but thereH369 was noH369 placeH4725 for 17my mountH929 to passH5674. 15So I wentH5927 up at nightH3915 by the 18ravineH5158 and inspectedH7663 the wallH2346. Then I enteredH935 the ValleyH1516 GateH8179 again and returnedH7725. 16The officialsH5461 did not knowH3045 whereH575 I had goneH1980 or whatH4100 I had doneH6213; norH3808 had I as yetH3651 toldH5046 the JewsH3064, the priestsH3548, the noblesH2715, the officialsH5461 or the restH3499 who didH6213 the workH4399.

17Then I saidH559 to them, “You seeH7200 the badH7451 situationH7463 we are in, that 19JerusalemH3389 is desolateH2720 and its gatesH8179 burnedH3341 by fireH784. ComeH1980, let us rebuildH1129 the wallH2346 of JerusalemH3389 soH3808 that we will noH3808 longerH5750 be a reproachH2781.” 18I toldH5046 them howH834 the handH3027 of my GodH430 had been favorableH2896 to me and alsoH637 about the king’sH4428 wordsH1697 whichH834 he had spokenH559 to me. Then they saidH559, “Let us ariseH6965 and buildH1129.” 20So they putH2388 their handsH3027 to the goodH2899 work.