(33) When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, it angered him, and he was extremely vexed. He mocked the Jews, (34) saying in the presence of his brothers and the Samarian force, “What are the miserable Jews doing? Will they restore, offer sacrifice, and finish one day? Can they revive those stones out of the dust heaps, burned as they are?” (35) Tobiah the Ammonite, alongside him, said, “That stone wall they are building—even if a fox climbed it he would breach it!”
(36) Hear, our God, how we have become a mockery, and return their taunts upon their heads! Let them be taken as spoil to a land of captivity! (37) Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out before You, for they hurled provocations at the builders.
(38) We rebuilt the wall till it was continuous all around to half its height; for the people’s heart was in the work.
(15) And so we worked on, while half were holding lances, from the break of day until the stars appeared. (16) I further said to the people at that time, “Let every man with his servant lodge in Jerusalem, that we may use the night to stand guard and the day to work.” (17) Nor did I, my brothers, my servants, or the guards following me ever take off our clothes, [or] each his weapon, even [to launder] at the water.