 |  | Nehemiah 4 |  |  |
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Work Is Ridiculed | ||||
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| 1 Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. | 1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. | 1 When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he became enraged and made fun of the Jews. | 1 But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. | 1 And it came to pass that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. | 2 He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?" | 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? | 2 In front of his allies and the army from Samaria, he said, "What do these miserable Jews think they're doing? Can they rebuild it by themselves? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day? Will they get the stones out of the rubbish heaps, burned as these stones are, and give them new strength?" | 2 He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned?" | 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? shall they be permitted to go on? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, when they are burned? | 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, "Even what they are building-- if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!" | 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. | 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside Sanballat, said, "Even a fox would make their stone wall collapse if it walked on top of what they're building!" | 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall." | 3 And Tobijah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox went up, it would break down their stone wall. -- | 4 Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. | 4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: | 4 [Nehemiah prayed,] "Our God, hear us. We are despised. Turn their insults back on them, and let them be robbed in the land where they are prisoners. | 4 "Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; | 4 Hear, our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in a land of captivity! | 5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders. | 5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. | 5 Don't ignore their guilt, and don't let their sins disappear from your records. They have insulted you in front of these builders." | 5 don't cover their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders." | 5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked the builders. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 6 So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. | 6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. | 6 So we rebuilt the wall, which was rebuilt to about half its [original] height. The people worked with determination. | 6 So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half [the height] of it: for the people had a mind to work. | 6 But we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to the half thereof; for the people had a mind to work. | 7 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. | 7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, | 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod heard that the repair work on the walls of Jerusalem was making progress and that the gaps were being filled in, they became furious. | 7 But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry; | 7 And it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired, that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, | 8 All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. | 8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. | 8 All of them plotted to attack Jerusalem to create confusion. | 8 and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. | 8 and conspired all of them together to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. | Discouragement Overcome |
| 9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. | 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. | 9 But we prayed to our God and set guards to protect us day and night. | 9 But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. | 9 Then we prayed to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. | 10 Thus in Judah it was said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall." | 10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. | 10 Then the people of Judah said, "The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can't continue to rebuild the wall." | 10 Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall." | 10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens faileth, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build at the wall. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 11 Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work." | 11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. | 11 Our enemies said, "Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We'll kill them and bring the work to an end." | 11 Our adversaries said, "They shall not know, neither see, until we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease." | 11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them and kill them, and put an end to the work. | 12 When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, "They will come up against us from every place where you may turn," | 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. | 12 Jews who were living near our enemies warned us ten times that our enemies would attack us from every direction. | 12 It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us." | 12 And it came to pass that when the Jews that dwelt by them came and told us so ten times, from all the places whence they returned to us, | 13 then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. | 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. | 13 That is why I positioned people by their families behind the wall where it was lowest and most exposed. The people were armed with swords, spears, and bows. | 13 Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set [there] the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. | 13 I set in the lower places behind the wall in exposed places, I even set the people, according to their families, with their swords, their spears and their bows. | 14 When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke 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, your daughters, your wives and your houses." | 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. | 14 I looked them over and proceeded to tell the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and awe-inspiring the LORD is. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." | 14 I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Don't 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 houses." | 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses. | 15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. | 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. | 15 When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job. | 15 It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work. | 15 And it came to pass that when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had defeated their counsel, we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 16 From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. | 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. | 16 From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans | 16 It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. | 16 And from that time forth the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held the spears, and the shields, and the bows, and the corslets; and the captains were behind all the house of Judah. | 17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. | 17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. | 17 who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other, | 17 They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon; | 17 They that built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that loaded, wrought in the work with one hand, and with the other they held a weapon. | 18 As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. | 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. | 18 and each builder had his sword fastened to his side. The man who was supposed to sound the trumpet alarm was with me. | 18 and the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. | 18 And the builders had every one his sword girded by his side, and built. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. | 19 I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. | 19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. | 19 I told the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, "So much work has to be done in different places that we are widely separated from one another on the wall. | 19 I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another. | 19 And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and extended, and we are scattered upon the wall, one far from another: | 20 "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." | 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. | 20 When you hear the trumpet, assemble around me. Our God will fight for us!" | 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us." | 20 in what place ye hear the sound of the trumpet, thither shall ye assemble to us; our God will fight for us. | NASB | KJV | GWT | WEB | DBY |
| 21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. | 21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. | 21 So we continued to work. Half of us held spears from early dawn until the stars came out. | 21 So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. | 21 And we laboured in the work; and half of them held the spears from the rising of the dawn till the stars appeared. | 22 At that time I also said to the people, "Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day." | 22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. | 22 At that time I told the people, "Every man and his servant should stay overnight in Jerusalem so that we can set a guard at night and work during the day." | 22 Likewise at the same time said I to the people, "Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day." | 22 Likewise at the same time I said to the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and be for labour in the day. | 23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water. | 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing. | 23 My brothers, my servants, and the guards assigned to me never changed their clothes. Neither did I. We each kept our weapons at hand. | 23 So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water. | 23 And neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our garments: every one had his weapon on his right side. |
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