11I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.12I arose by night, I and a few men with me, and I told no man what my God was giving to my heart to do for Jerusalem; and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.13I went out by night by the Valley Gate toward the face of the Dragon Fountain and toward the Dung Gate, and I was inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that were broken through, and its gates had been consumed by fire.14I passed on to the Fountain Gate and to the king's pool, and there was no place for the animal to pass under me.15I went up the torrent by night and inspected the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate and returned.16The rulers did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet informed the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the rulers, or the rest who were doing the work.17I said to them, "You see the distress in which we are, that Jerusalem lies destroyed and its gates have been kindled with fire. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, and let us not be a reproach any longer."18I also told them how the hand of my God had been favorable upon me and what the king had said to me, and they replied, "Let us arise and build," and they strengthened their hands for the good work.19Sanballat the Horonite and Tobijah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arabian heard, and they mocked us and despised us, and they said, "What is this word that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"20I answered them, "The God of heaven will give us success; we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem."