¹⁸ I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good.^(A)

¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

⁵ Hezekiah^[a] strengthened himself and built up the entire wall that was broken down and raised towers on it,^[b] and outside it he built another wall; he also strengthened the Millo in the city of David and made weapons and shields in abundance.^(A)

¹³ Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power;

¹³ Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”^{(A) 14} And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,^(B)

⁷ Therefore let your hands be strong and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

²² With joy they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread seven days, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.^(A)

David’s Mighty Men and Their Exploits

¹⁰ Now these are the chiefs of David’s warriors, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.^(A)