¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me^(A) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

¹³ for it is God who works in you^(A) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.^(B)

⁵ Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall^(A) and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the terraces^[a](B) of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons^(C) and shields.

¹³ Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(A) and in his mighty power.^(B)

¹³ Then Haggai,^(A) the Lord’s messenger,^(B) gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with^(C) you,” declares the Lord. ¹⁴ So the Lord stirred up^(D) the spirit of Zerubbabel^(E) son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak,^(F) the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant^(G) of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,

⁷ Now then, be strong^(A) and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

²² For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(A) because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude^(B) of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

David’s Mighty Warriors^(A)

¹⁰ These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel,^(B) gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised^(C)—