17 Afterward I said unto them, Ye see the misery that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire: come, and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more [a]a reproach.

18 Then I told them of the hand of my God, (which was good over me) and also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise, and build. So they [b]strengthened their hand to good.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant an Ammonite, and [c]Geshem the Arabian heard it, they mocked us, and despised us, and said, What a thing is this that ye do? Will ye [d]rebel against the king?

20 Then answered I them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us, and we his servants will rise up and build: but as for you, ye have no portion nor right, nor [e]memorial in Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:17 That is, contemned of other nations, as though God had forsaken us.
  2. Nehemiah 2:18 They were encouraged, and gave themselves to do well, and to travel in this worthy enterprise.
  3. Nehemiah 2:19 These were three chief governors under the king of Persia beyond Euphrates.
  4. Nehemiah 2:19 Thus the wicked when they will burden the children of God, ever lay treason unto their charge, both because it maketh them most odious to the world, and also stirreth the hatred of princes most against them.
  5. Nehemiah 2:20 Neither are ye of the number of the children of God (to whom he hath appointed this city only) neither did any of your predecessors ever fear God.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.(A) Come, let us rebuild the wall(B) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.(C) 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me(D) and what the king had said to me.

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

19 But when Sanballat(E) the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem(F) the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.(G) “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,(H) but as for you, you have no share(I) in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

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