'Laid the Foundation' in the Bible

he is like to a man, building a house, who digged, and sunk deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when there was a flood, the river rushed violently against that house, and was not of force to shake it, for it was founded on a rock.

lest haply, after having laid the foundation, and being unable to finish it, all who look upon it begin to ridicule him,