Nehemiah 2:17-20

New International Version

¹⁷Then 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)” ¹⁸I 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.

¹⁹But 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?”

²⁰I 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.”

Read full chapter

Nehemiah 2:17-20

English Standard Version

¹⁷Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, ^(A)how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer ^(B)suffer derision.” ¹⁸And I told them ^(C)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.” ^(D)So they strengthened their hands for the good work. ¹⁹But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and ^(E)Geshem the Arab heard of it, ^(F)they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? ^(G)Are you rebelling against the king?” ²⁰Then I replied to them, ^(H)“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.”