PROGRESS IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION

4 When Sanballataa heard that we were rebuilding the wall,ab he became furious. He mocked the Jewsac 2 before his colleagues and the powerful menE of Samariaad and said, “What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stonesae back to life from the mounds of rubble?”af 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite,ag who was beside him, said, “Indeed, even if a foxah climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!”

4 Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angeredF the builders.ai

6 So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.aj

7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs,ak Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed,al they became furious.am 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

10 In Judah, it was said:G

The strength of the laborer fails,

since there is so much rubble.

We will never be able

to rebuild the wall.

11 And our enemies said, “They won’t realize itA until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12 When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again,B “Everywhere you turn, they attackC us.” 13 So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people,a “Don’t be afraid of them.b Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”c