7. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.
8. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
9. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
10. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the labourers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.’