Nehemiah 2:11-17

11So I 1came to Jerusalem and was there for three days. 12And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my 2mind to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13So I went out at night by 3the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Spring and on to the Dung Gate, and I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem 4which were broken down and its 5gates which had been consumed by fire. 14Then I passed on to 6the Fountain Gate and 7the King’s Pool, but there was no place for 8my mount to pass. 15So I was going up at night by the 9ravine and inspecting the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned. 16However, the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who were doing the work.

17Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that 10Jerusalem is desolate and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”