Nehemiah 4:1-6 - Opposition Begins

¹ But when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth and took great indignation and mocked the Jews ² and said before his brethren and the soldiers of Samaria, "What do these impotent Jews? Shall they be thus suffered? Shall they offer? Shall they perform it in one day? Shall they make the stones whole again that are brought to dust, and burnt?" ³ And Tobiah the Ammonite beside him said, "Let them build on: if a fox go up, he shall break down their stony wall."

⁴ Hear, O thou our God, how we are despised! Turn their shame upon their own head, that thou mayest give them over into despising in the land of their captivity. ⁵ Cover not their wickedness, and let not their sin be put out from thy presence: for they have provoked the builders.

⁶ Yet builded we the wall, and joined it whole together, unto the half height. And the people were well minded to labour.