may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you -- both I myself and my family have sinned.

who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon.

We did not change clothes -- not I, nor my relatives, nor my workers, nor the watchmen who were with me. Each had his weapon, even when getting a drink of water.

The fifth time that Sanballat sent his assistant to me in this way, he had an open letter in his hand.