Hear, O our God, for we are despised
Here begins the prayer of Nehemiah, who had been informed of what these men said in contempt of him, and his builders, and to whom he sent no answer, but applied to God:
and turn their reproach upon their own head;
as they have despised and reproached us, let them be despised and reproached by their neighbours:
give them for a prey in the land of captivity;
let them be carried captive, as we have been, and become a prey and booty to their enemies.