9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river and gave them the king's letters Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite heard of it it grieved them exceedingly __ that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel
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 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian heard it they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said What is this thing that ye do will ye rebel against the king 20 Then answered __ I them and said unto them The God of heaven he will prosper us therefore we his servants will arise and build but ye have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem
