17 Daarop sê ek vir hulle: Julle sien die nood waar ons in is, dat Jerusalem woes lê en sy poorte met vuur verbrand is; kom, laat ons die muur van Jerusalem opbou, dat ons nie langer 'n voorwerp van smaad kan wees nie.

18 En ek vertel hulle van die hand van my God wat goed was oor my, en ook van die woorde van die koning wat hy my gesê het. En hulle sê: Ons sal ons klaarmaak en bou! En hulle het hulle hande sterk gemaak vir die goeie werk.

17 Then I said to them, You see what a bad condition we are in; how Jerusalem is a waste, and its doorways burned with fire: come, let us get to work, building up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer be put to shame.

18 Then I gave them an account of how the hand of my God was on me, helping me; and of the king's words which he had said to me. And they said, Let us get to work on the building. So they made their hands strong for the good work.