Nehemiah 2:11-17

11I came to Jerusalem, and after I was there for three days,

12I got up during the night along with a few men. But I did not tell anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me except the animal I was riding.

13By night I went out by the Valley Gate toward Jackal Spring and the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.

14Then I moved on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, where there was not enough room for my animal to pass with me;

15so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and returned to the Valley Gate.

16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, but as yet I had not told the Jews, the kohanim, the nobles, the officials or the rest of the workers.

17Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in: Jerusalem is desolate and its gates have been burnt. Come! Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”