Quotes About Effort

Solomon, however, took thirteen years to complete the construction of his entire palace.

But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”

So he conscripted 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

In the third month they began building up the heaps, and they finished in the seventh month.

The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them.

Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs; and next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs as well.

Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

Next to them, repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates.

Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs;

next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.

Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Ovens.

Next to him, their countrymen made repairs under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah.

Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the doorway of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house.

Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house, and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.

After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the angle and the corner,

And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.

Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters.

So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall.

So the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul.

“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading.