Nehemiah 4:1–9

The Wall Defended Against Enemies

4 But it so happened, awhen Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”

3 Now bTobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

4 cHear, O our God, for we are despised; dturn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 eDo not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

7 Now it happened, fwhen Sanballat, Tobiah, gthe Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the 1gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them hconspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless iwe made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.