Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he became enraged and took great offense against us. He mocked us before his brothers and the army of Samaria, saying, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they complete their work in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of burned rubble?"

Sanballat was not alone in his ridicule. Tobiah the Ammonite stood nearby, declaring that even what we were building would be broken down by a fox if it climbed up. The people who opposed us seemed confident in their own strength and our weakness.

We prayed to God for help, pleading with him to turn their reproach upon their own head and give them up as prey in a land of captivity. We asked him not to cover their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from before his eyes, for they had provoked him to anger before the builders.

Despite their scorn, we continued to build the wall. And all of it was joined together up to its halfway point, because the people were eager to work. We pressed on with our labor, driven by a desire to complete the project as quickly and efficiently as possible.

When Sanballat, Tobiah, and their allies heard that Jerusalem's walls were being rebuilt and breaches were being repaired, they became extremely angry. They conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, seeking to hinder its progress. But we knew of their plans and took steps to counter them.

We set a watch against the people who threatened us, day and night, because of their threats. We made our prayer to God, asking for his protection and guidance in this difficult time. And as we worked, we were aware of the danger that lurked outside our walls.

Judah said, "The strength of those carrying loads is weakening, and there is much debris; we are not able to build the wall." Our adversaries scoffed at us, saying, "They will not know or see until we are right in the middle of them and strike them down, causing the work to come to a halt."

But when the Jews who lived nearby came, they said to us ten times from all places, "Wherever you turn, they will be upon you." We took these warnings seriously, knowing that our enemies were watching for an opportunity to attack.

I set guards in the lowest parts of the wall behind it and on higher sections with people from each family group armed with swords, spears, and bows. I told the nobles, rulers, and rest of the people not to be afraid of them; instead, they should remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for their brethren, sons, daughters, wives, and houses.

When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, we all returned to the wall, each one going back to his work. We worked together as a team, with some people building on the wall and others carrying burdens while another group loaded them, each with one hand doing the work and with the other hand holding a weapon.

Among the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and he who sounded the trumpet was by me. I told the nobles, rulers, and rest of the people that the work was great and extensive, with us separated on the wall, one from another. When they heard the sound of the trumpet, they would gather there to us.

We labored in the work: and half of them held spears from morning till the stars appeared. We took turns working and guarding the wall, ensuring that it was secure and complete. I suggested that each one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem so they could serve as our night watch and labor alongside us during the day.

We neither I, nor my brethren, nor our servants, nor the men of the guard who accompanied me, removed our clothes except to wash. We worked tirelessly, driven by a shared goal and a sense of urgency. Our dedication to the project was unwavering, even in the face of opposition and danger.