⁴ Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

³ They set the altar on its base; for fear was on them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.

⁷ But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry;

⁸ and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.

¹¹ Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.

⁹ For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, [God], strengthen you my hands.

³ Strengthen you the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

⁴ Tell those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, don't be afraid: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [with] the recompense of God; he will come and save you.

⁴ Then the princes said to the king, Let this man, we pray you, be put to death; because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them: for this man doesn't seek the welfare of this people, but the hurt.