The building is carried on notwithstanding the opposition of their
enemies.
4:1. And it came to pass, that when Sanaballat heard that we were
building the wall he was angry: and being moved exceedingly he scoffed
at the Jews.
4:2. And said before his brethren, and the multitude of the Samaritans:
What are the silly Jews doing? Will the Gentiles let them alone? will
they sacrifice and make an end in a day? are they able to raise stones
out of the heaps of the rubbish, which are burnt?
4:3. Tobias also the Ammonite who was by him said: Let them build: if a
fox go up, he will leap over their stone wall.
4:4. Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon
their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity.
4:5. Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out
from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders.
4:6. So we built the wall, and joined it all together unto the half
thereof: and the heart of the people was excited to work.
4:7. And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and the
Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Azotians heard that the walls of
Jerusalem were made up, and the breaches began to be closed, that they
were exceedingly angry.
4:8. And they all assembled themselves together, to come, and to fight
against Jerusalem, and to prepare ambushes.
4:9. And we prayed to our God, and set watchmen upon the wall day and
night against them.
4:10. And Juda said: The strength of the bearer of burdens is decayed,
and the rubbish is very much, and we shall not be able to build the
wall.
4:11. And our enemies said: Let them not know, nor understand, till we
come in the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.
4:12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews that dwelt by them came
and told us ten times, out of all the places from whence they came to
us,
4:13. I set the people in the place behind the wall round about in
order, with their swords, and spears, and bows.
4:14. And I looked and rose up: and I said to the chief men and the
magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: be not afraid of
them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your
brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your
houses.
4:15. And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that the thing had
been told us, that God defeated their counsel. And we returned all of
us to the walls, every man to his work.
4:16. And it came to pass from that day forward, that half of their
young men did the work, and half were ready for to fight, with spears,
and shields, and bows, and coats of mail, and the rulers were behind
them in all the house of Juda.
4:17. Of them that built on the wall and that carried burdens, and that
laded: with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he
held a sword.
4:18. For every one of the builders was girded with a sword about his
reins. And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me.
4:19. And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest
of the common people: The work is great and wide, and we are separated
on the wall one far from another:
4:20. In what place soever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, run
all thither unto us: our God will fight for us.
4:21. And let us do the work: and let one half of us hold our spears
from the rising of the morning, till the stars appear.
4:22. At that time also I said to the people: Let every one with his
servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in
the night, and by day, to work.
4:23. Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that
followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped
himself when he was to be washed.