The Work Ridiculed 1 Brenton Now it came to pass, when Sanaballat heard that we were building the wall, that it was grievous to him, and he was very angry, and railed against the Jews. BSB BSB: Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
2 Brenton And he said before his brethren (that is the army of the Samaritans) Is it true that these Jews are building their city? do they indeed offer sacrifices? will they prevail? and will they this day restore the stones, after they have been burnt and made a heap of rubbish? BSB BSB: before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”
3 Brenton And Tobias the Ammanite came near to him, and said to them, Do they sacrifice or eat in their place? shall not a fox go up and pull down their wall of stones? BSB BSB: Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
4 Brenton Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn; and return thou their reproach upon their head, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity, BSB BSB: Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
5 Brenton and do not cover their iniquity. BSB BSB: Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.
7 Brenton But it came to pass, when Sanaballat and Tobia, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing, and that the breaches began to be stopped, that it appeared very grievous to them. BSB BSB: When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
8 Brenton And all of them assembled together, to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to destroy it utterly. BSB BSB: and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.
Discouragement Overcome 9 Brenton So we prayed to our God and set watchmen against them day and night, because of them. BSB BSB: So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.
10 Brenton And Juda said, The strength of the enemies is broken, yet there is much rubbish, and we shall not be able to build the wall. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
11 Brenton And they that afflicted us said, They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. BSB BSB: And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
12 Brenton And it came to pass, when the Jews who lived near them came, that they said to us, They are coming up against us from every quarter. BSB BSB: At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
13 Brenton So I set men in the lowest part of the place behind the wall in the lurking-places, I even set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. BSB BSB: So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.
14 Brenton And I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles, and to the captains, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember our great and terrible God, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. BSB BSB: After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said 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 and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
15 Brenton And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was made known to us, and God had frustrated their counsel, that we all returned to the wall, every man to his work. BSB BSB: When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.
16 Brenton And it came to pass from that day that half of them that had been driven forth, wrought the work, and half of them kept guard; and there were spears, and shields, and bows, and breast-plates, and rulers behind the whole house of Juda, BSB BSB: And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 Brenton even of them that were building the wall:—and those who carried the burdens were under arms: each with one hand wrought his work, and with the other held his dart. BSB BSB: who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
18 Brenton And the builders wrought each man having his sword girt upon his loins, and so they built: and the trumpeter with his trumpet next to him. BSB BSB: And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.
19 Brenton And I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and abundant, and we are dispersed upon the wall, each at a great distance from his brother. BSB BSB: 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.
20 Brenton In whatsoever place ye shall hear the sound of the cornet, thither gather yourselves together to us; and our God shall fight for us. BSB BSB: Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”
21 Brenton So we continued labouring at the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. BSB BSB: So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
22 Brenton And at that time I said to the people, Lodge ye every man with his servant in the midst of Jerusalem, and let the night be a watch-time to you, and the day a work-time. BSB BSB: At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
23 Brenton And I was there , and the watchmen behind me, and there was not a man of us that put off his garments. BSB BSB: So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.