¹⁸ And I told them ^(A)of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” ^(B)So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

¹³ for ^(A)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ^(B)his good pleasure.

⁵ He set to work resolutely and built up ^(A)all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it,^[a] and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the ^(B)Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance.

¹³ Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.”

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, ^(A)be strong in the Lord and in ^(B)the strength of his might.

¹³ Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, ^(A)“I am with you, declares the Lord.” ¹⁴ And ^(B)the Lord stirred up the spirit of ^(C)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of ^(D)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all ^(E)the remnant of the people. And they came and ^(F)worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,

²² And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread ^(A)seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful ^(B)and had turned the heart of ^(C)the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

⁷ Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and ^(A)the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

David's Mighty Men

^10 (A)Now these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, ^(B)according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.