Nehemiah 4:1-12

1But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and felt great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they finish in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?1 3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox should go up, he would even break down their stone wall. 4Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a spoil in the land of captivity:2 5And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. 6So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to the half of it: for the people had a mind to work.

7But it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were set up, and that the breaches began to be closed, then they were very angry,3 8And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.4 9Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is failing, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12And it came to pass, that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times, From all places where ye shall return to us they will be upon you .5