Hanun and the residents of Zanoah worked on the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars, in addition to working on fifteen hundred feet ¹  of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

At that time I instructed ¹  the people, “Let every man and his coworker spend the night in Jerusalem and let them be guards for us by night and workers by day.

A blacksmith works with his tool ¹  and forges metal over the coals. He forms it ²  with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; ³  he drinks no water and gets tired.

Now and then ¹  there would be something wrong ²  with the pot he was molding from the clay ³  with his hands. So he would rework ⁴  the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit. ⁵ 

in which ¹  you formerly lived ²  according to this world’s present path, ³  according to the ruler of the kingdom ⁴  of the air, the ruler of ⁵  the spirit ⁶  that is now energizing ⁷  the sons of disobedience, ⁸ 

The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, ¹ 

And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, ¹  these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. ¹  Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked ²  night and day in order not to burden any of you.

and in cutting stones for their setting, ¹  and in cutting wood, to do work in every artistic craft. ² 

Indeed, it was the very hand of the Lord that eliminated them from within ¹  the camp until they were all gone.

Be careful to observe ¹  the Sabbath day just as the Lord your God has commanded you.

The Lord’s spirit began to control him ¹  in Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

They ¹  also asked them, “What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?”

Rephaiah son of Hur, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to them.

After him their relatives ¹  worked – Binnui ²  son of Henadad, head of a half-district of Keilah.

So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. ¹  The people were enthusiastic in their work. ² 

Like a servant ¹  longing for the evening shadow, ²  and like a hired man looking ³  for his wages, ⁴ 

Look away from him and let him desist, ¹  until he fulfills ²  his time like a hired man.

May they be ¹  like wind-driven chaff, as the Lord’s angel ²  attacks them! ³