13
I went out by night through the Valley Gate, to the Dragon's Well and the Dung Gate, and inspected the places where the walls of Yerushalayim were broken down and where its gates had been burned down.
14
Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass.
15
So I went up the valley in the dark and went on inspecting the wall; then I turned back, entered through the Valley Gate and returned,
16
without the officials' knowing where I had gone or what I had done. Till then, I hadn't said anything about this to the Judeans, cohanim, nobles, officials or anyone who would be responsible for the work.
17
Afterwards, I said to them, "You see what a sad state we are in, how Yerushalayim lies in ruins, with it gates burned up. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Yerushalayim, so that we won't continue in disgrace."