Nehemiah 4:11
◄  Nehemiah 4:11  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, "Before they know what's happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work."

English Standard Version (©2001)
And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Our enemies said, "Before they notice or see us, we'll penetrate their midst, kill them, and stop the work!"

NET Bible (©2006)
Our adversaries also boasted, "Before they are aware or anticipate anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt!"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
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."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
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.

American King James Version
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the middle among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

American Standard Version
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And our enemies said: Let them not know, nor understand, till we come in the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.

Darby Bible Translation
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.

English Revised Version
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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."

Young's Literal Translation
And our adversaries say, 'They do not know, nor see, till that we come in to their midst, and have slain them, and caused the work to cease.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:7-15 The hindering good work is what bad men aim at, and promise themselves success in; but good work is God's work, and it shall prosper. God has many ways of bringing to light, and so of bringing to nought, the devices and designs of his church's enemies. If our enemies cannot frighten us from duty, or deceive us into sin, they cannot hurt us. Nehemiah put himself and his cause under the Divine protection. It was the way of this good man, and should be our way. All his cares, all his griefs, all his fears, he spread before God. Before he used any means, he made his prayer to God. Having prayed, he set a watch against the enemy. If we think to secure ourselves by prayer, without watchfulness, we are slothful, and tempt God; if by watchfulness, without prayer, we are proud, and slight God: either way, we forfeit his protection. God's care of our safety, should engage and encourage us to go on with vigour in our duty. As soon as a danger is over, let us return to our work, and trust God another time.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And our adversaries said, they shall not know,.... Our designs upon them:

neither see; or perceive what we are about to do:

till we come in the midst of them; with an army suddenly, at an unawares, and unexpected:

and slay them; they being unarmed, and not prepared to defend themselves:

and cause the work to cease; as it must in course, the builders being slain.

Nehemiah 4:11 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Discouragement Overcome
9Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10And 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. 11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the middle among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. …

Nehemiah 4:9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
Nehemiah 4:10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."
Nehemiah 4:12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."