1 But it came to pass, that when Sanvalat [strength] heard that we built the wall, he was exceedingly angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Y’hudim (Judeans).

2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Shomron [watch mountain], and said, What do these feeble Y’hudim (Judeans)? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3 Now Toviyah [Yehovah is good] the ‘Amoni [tribal] [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

4 Hear, O our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]; for we are despised: and turn their reproach (disgrace; shame) upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before youi: for they have provoked [youi] to anger before the builders.

6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass, [that] when Sanvalat [strength], and Toviyah [Yehovah is good], and the Arabians, and the ‘Amon [Inbred], and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very exceedingly angry,

8 And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], and to hinder it.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10 And Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised] said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and [there is] much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12 And it came to pass, that when the Y’hudim (Judeans) which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places from what place you2f shall return unto us [they will be upon you].

13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, [and] on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not you2f afraid of them: remember the Lord-Adonai (The Father) [Greatest Above All Things], [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16 And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers [were] behind all the house of Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised].

17 They which built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon.

18 For the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and [so] built. And he that sounded the trumpet [was] by me.

19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

20 In what place [therefore] you2f hear the sound of the trumpet, resort you2f there unto us: our God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] shall fight for us.

21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace], that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.

23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, [saving that] every one put them off for washing.