Nehemiah 4:1-11 ▼

1 BUT when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was grieved and very angry, and he mocked the Jews.

2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of the Samaritans, and said, What are these Jews doing? They are boasting; let them sacrifice and eat on the day when they raise up these stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned!

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was standing by him, and he said, No matter how much they build, I know, if a fox climbs it, he shall break down their stone wall.

4 Hear, O our God, for we have become ridiculed; and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of their captivity:

5 And forgive not their offenses, and let not their sins be blotted out from before thee; for they are enraged, and have opposed the building which we are doing.

6 But as for us, we shall continue to build the wall; and the people are building it, and all the wall is completed to the half thereof; for the people have a mind to work.

7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that a time was set to complete the walls of Jerusalem, and the breaches began to be closed, then they were exceedingly grieved,

8 And they all conspired together to come to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder the people from the work.

9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, that he may set watchmen over us day and night because of them.

10 And the Jews said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is diminishing, 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 and attack them and slay them and cause their work to cease.