Nehemiah 2:11-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Preparing to Rebuild the Walls
11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,(A) 12 I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took[a] was the one I was riding. 13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s[b] Well and the Dung Gate,(B) and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.(C) 14 I went on to the Fountain Gate(D) and the King’s Pool,(E) but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate(F) and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. 17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down.(G) Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall,(H) so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me,(I) and what the king had said to me.
They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged[c] to do this good work.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Nehemiah 2:12 Lit animal with me
- Nehemiah 2:13 Or Dragon’s
- Nehemiah 2:18 Lit they put their hands
Nehemiah 2:11-18
King James Version
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
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