Nehemiah 2:16-18

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that ^(A)Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” ¹⁸ I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” ^(B)So they put their hands to the good work.