After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?

“Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.

They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.