Nehemiah 2:11-3:12

English Standard Version Anglicised

^11 (A)So I went to Jerusalem and was there for three days. ¹² Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. ¹³ I went out by night by ^(B)the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to ^(C)the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem ^(D)that were broken down ^(E)and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. ¹⁴ Then I went on to ^(F)the Fountain Gate and to ^(G)the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. ¹⁵ Then I went up in the night ^(H)by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. ¹⁶ And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.

¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, ^(I)how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer ^(J)suffer derision.” ¹⁸ And I told them ^(K)of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” ^(L)So they strengthened their hands for the good work. ¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and ^(M)Geshem the Arab heard of it, ^(N)they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? ^(O)Are you rebelling against the king?” ²⁰ Then I replied to them, ^(P)“The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim^[a] in Jerusalem.”

Rebuilding the Wall

3 Then ^(Q)Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built ^(R)the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and ^(S)set up its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the ^(T)Tower of Hananel. ² And next to him ^(U)the men of Jericho built. And next to them^[b] Zaccur the son of Imri built.

³ The sons of Hassenaah built ^(V)the Fish Gate. ^(W)They laid its beams and ^(X)set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁴ And next to them ^(Y)Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them ^(Z)Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. ⁵ And next to them ^(AA)the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.^[c]

⁶ Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah ^(AB)repaired the Gate of Yeshanah.^{[d] (AC)}They laid its beams and ^(AD)set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁷ And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of ^(AE)the governor of the province Beyond the River. ⁸ Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as ^(AF)the Broad Wall. ⁹ Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ^(AG)ruler of half the district of^[e] Jerusalem, repaired. ¹⁰ Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. ¹¹ Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and ^(AH)the Tower of the Ovens. ¹² Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ^(AI)ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.