Dual Panel1Now it came<1961> about that when<3512> Sanballat<5571> heard<8085> that we were rebuilding<1129> the wall<2346>, he became<2734> furious<2734> and very<7235> angry<3707> and mocked<3932> the Jews<3064>.
2He spoke<559> in the presence<6440> of his brothers<251> and the wealthy<2428> men of Samaria<8111> and said<559>, "What<4100> are these feeble<537> Jews<3064> doing<6213>? Are they going to restore<5800> it for themselves? Can they offer<2076> sacrifices<2076>? Can they finish<3615> in a day<3117>? Can they revive<2421> the stones<68> from the dusty<6083> rubble<6194> even the burned<8313> ones?"
3Now Tobiah<2900> the Ammonite<5984> was near<681> him and he said<559>, "Even<1571> what<834> they are building<1129>--if<518> a fox<7776> should jump<5927> on it, he would break<6555> their stone<68> wall<2346> down<6555>!"
4Hear<8085>, O our God<430>, how<3588> we are despised<939>! Return<7725> their reproach<2781> on their own heads<7218> and give<5414> them up for plunder<961> in a land<776> of captivity<7633>.
5Do not forgive<3680> their iniquity<5771> and let not their sin<2403> be blotted<4229> out before<4480><6440> You, for they have demoralized<3707><5048> the builders<1129>.
6So we built<1129> the wall<2346> and the whole<3605> wall<2346> was joined<7194> together<7194> to half<2677> its height, for the people<5971> had<1961> a mind<3820> to work<6213>.
7Now when<3512> Sanballat<5571>, Tobiah<2900>, the Arabs<6163>, the Ammonites<5984> and the Ashdodites<796> heard<8085> that the repair<724> of the walls<2346> of Jerusalem<3389> went<5927> on, and that the breaches<6555> began<2490> to be closed<5640>, they were very<3966> angry<2734>.
8All<3605> of them conspired<7194> together<3164> to come<935> and fight<3898> against Jerusalem<3389> and to cause<6213> a disturbance<8442> in it.
9But we prayed<6419> to our God<430>, and because<5921> of them we set<5975> up a guard<4929> against<5921> them day<3119> and night<3915>.
10Thus in Judah<3063> it was said<559>, "The strength<3581> of the burden<5449> bearers<5449> is failing<3782>, Yet there is much<7235> rubbish<6083>; And we ourselves<587> are unable<3808><3201> To rebuild<1129> the wall<2346>."
11Our enemies<6862> said<559>, "They will not know<3045> or see<7200> until<5704><834> we come<935> among<413><8432> them, kill<2026> them and put<7673> a stop<7673> to the work<4399>."
12When<3512> the Jews<3064> who lived<3427> near<681> them came<935> and told<559> us ten<6235> times<6471>, "They will come up against<5921> us from every<3605> place<4725> where<834> you may turn<7725>,"
13then I stationed<5975> men in the lowest<8482> parts<8482> of the space<4725> behind<310> the wall<2346>, the exposed<6706> places<6706>, and I stationed<5975> the people<5971> in families<4940> with their swords<2719>, spears<7420> and bows<7198>.
14When I saw<7200> their fear, I rose<6965> and spoke<559> to the nobles<2715>, the officials<5461> and the rest<3499> of the people<5971>: "Do not be afraid<3372> of them; remember<2142> the Lord<136> who is great<1419> and awesome<3372>, and fight<3898> for your brothers<251>, your sons<1121>, your daughters<1323>, your wives<802> and your houses<1004>."
15When<3512> our enemies<340> heard<8085> that it was known<3045> to us, and that God<430> had frustrated<6565> their plan<6098>, then all<3605> of us returned<7725> to the wall<2346>, each<376> one<376> to his work<4399>.
16From that day<3117> on, half<2677> of my servants<5288> carried<6213> on the work<4399> while half<2677> of them held<2388> the spears<7420>, the shields<4043>, the bows<7198> and the breastplates<8302>; and the captains<8269> were behind<310> the whole<3605> house<1004> of Judah<3063>.
17Those who were rebuilding<1129> the wall<2346> and those who carried<5375> burdens<5447> took<6006> their load<6006> with one<259> hand<3027> doing<6213> the work<4399> and the other<259> holding<2388> a weapon<7973>.
18As for the builders<1129>, each<376> wore his sword<2719> girded<631> at his side<4975> as he built<1129>, while the trumpeter<8628><7782> stood near<681> me.
19I said<559> to the nobles<2715>, the officials<5461> and the rest<3499> of the people<5971>, "The work<4399> is great<7235> and extensive<7342>, and we are separated<6504> on the wall<2346> far<7350> from one<376> another<251>.
20"At whatever<834> place<4725> you hear<8085> the sound<6963> of the trumpet<7782>, rally<6908> to us there<8033>. Our God<430> will fight<3898> for us."
21So we carried<6213> on the work<4399> with half<2677> of them holding<2388> spears<7420> from dawn<5927><7837> until<5704> the stars<3556> appeared<3318>.
22At that time<6256> I also<1571> said<559> to the people<5971>, "Let each<376> man<376> with his servant<5288> spend<3885> the night<3885> within<8432> Jerusalem<3389> so that they may be a guard<4929> for us by night<3915> and a laborer<4399> by day<3117>."
23So neither<369> I, my brothers<251>, my servants<5288>, nor<369> the men<376> of the guard<4929> who<834> followed<310> me, none<369> of us removed<6584> our clothes<899>, each<376> took his weapon<7973> even to the water<4325>.