After him Baruch son of Zabbai worked on another section, from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

After him Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, worked on another section from the door of Eliashib&#8217;s house to the end of it.<n id="1" />p>

After him Binnui son of Henadad worked on another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and the corner.

After him Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, worked as far as the house of the temple servants and the traders, opposite the Inspection Gate,<n id="1" /> and up to the room above the corner.

who were rebuilding the wall.<n id="1" /> Those who were carrying loads did so<n id="2" /> by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon.

I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing<n id="1" /> a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.p>

<p class="bodytext">All of them were wanting<n id="1" /> to scare us, supposing, &#8220;Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won&#8217;t get done.&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">So now, strengthen my hands!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Seven women will grab hold ofp> <p class="poetry">one man at that time.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They will say, &#8220;We will provide<n id="2" /> our own food,p> <p class="poetry">we will provide<n id="3" /> our own clothes;p> <p class="poetry">but let us belong to you<n id="4" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">take away our shame!&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him.<n id="1" /> He will become a protector of<n id="2" /> the residents of Jerusalem and of the people<n id="3" /> of Judah.

<p class="poetry">So now, do not mock,p> <p class="poetry">or your chains will become heavier!p> <p class="poetry">For I have heard a message about decreed destruction,p> <p class="poetry">from the sovereign master, the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies, against the entire land.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Though at this time your ropes are slack,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the mast is not secured,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and the sail<n id="3" /> is not unfurled,p> <p class="poetry">at that time you will divide up a great quantity of loot;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">even the lame will drag off plunder.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Tell those who panic,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Be strong! Do not fear!p> <p class="poetry">Look, your God comes to avenge!p> <p class="poetry">With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered.

<p class="poetry">you whom I am bringing back<n id="1" /> from the earth&#8217;s extremities,p> <p class="poetry">and have summoned from the remote regions &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">I told you, &#8220;You are my servant.&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">I have chosen you and not rejected you.p>

<p class="poetry">The people who do this will be blessed,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the people who commit themselves to obedience,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it,p> <p class="poetry">who refrain from doing anything that is wrong.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For this is what the <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;For the eunuchs who observe my Sabbathsp> <p class="poetry">and choose what pleases mep> <p class="poetry">and are faithful to<n id="1" /> my covenant,p>

<p class="poetry">No one invokes<n id="1" /> your name,p> <p class="poetry">or makes an effort<n id="2" /> to take hold of you.p> <p class="poetry">For you have rejected us<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and handed us over to our own sins.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, I know you look for faithfulness.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">But even when you punish these people, they feel no remorse.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Even when you nearly destroy them, they refuse to be corrected.p> <p class="poetry">They have become as hardheaded as a rock.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">They refuse to change their ways.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all<n id="1" /> says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;The people of Israel are oppressed.p> <p class="poetry">So too are the people of Judah.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">All those who took them captive are holding them prisoners.p> <p class="poetry">They refuse to set them free.p>

This is because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (although I have not grieved him), and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil conduct and preserve his life.