Nehemiah 4 BSB ISV Parallel

◄ Nehemiah 4 ►

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Berean Study Bible

International Standard Version

1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews

1 When Sanballat heard that we were reconstructing the wall, he flew into a rage, became indignant, and mocked the Jews.

2before 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?”

2He addressed his allies and the Samaritan officials, saying "What are these pathetic Jews doing? Are they intending to rebuild it by themselves? Do they intend to offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a single day? Can they make stones from this burned out rubble?"

3Then 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!”

3Tobiah the Ammonite stood to the side, commenting, "If a fox were to jump onto what they're building, it would collapse their stone wall!"

4Hear 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.

4"Listen, our God, because we are being mocked. Let their insults fall back on them, and let them be dragged away as captives into exile.

5Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.

5Don't atone their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you, because they have demoralized the builders."

6So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

6So we rebuilt the wall, completing it halfway up, because the people were committed to working.

7When 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,

7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair work on the Jerusalem wall was progressing and that its breaches were being repaired, they flew into a rage.

8and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.

8So they all conspired together to invade and fight against Jerusalem, creating confusion there.

9So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

9But we prayed to our God. We also set up guards day and night because of them.

10Meanwhile, 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.”

10Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, "The builders are tired and there's so much rubble that we can't reconstruct the wall!"

11And 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.”

11Our enemies said, "Before they notice or see us, we'll penetrate their midst, kill them, and stop the work!"

12At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

12The Jews who lived near them kept coming to us, reporting at least ten times, "They'll attack us from every direction."

13So 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.

13So I stationed the people by families behind the wall in the lower exposed areas, equipping them with their swords, spears, and bows.

14After 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.”

14Looking things over, I stood up and spoke to the officials, the military leaders, and the rest of the people: "Don't fear them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

15When 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.

15Our opponents heard that we had learned about them, that God had brought their plans to failure, and that each and every one of us had come to work on the wall.

16And 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

16From that day on, half of my helpers engaged in the work while the other half kept spears, shields, bows, and armor ready. The senior officials backed all of the Judeans

17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.

17who worked on the wall. Those who carried building materials worked with one hand, carrying a spear in the other.

18And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

18Each builder worked with a sword strapped to his side, while a trumpeter remained beside me to sound an alarm.

19Then 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.

19I told the officials, rulers, and the rest of the people, "The project is large and extensive, and we are separated from each other on the wall,

20Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”

20so wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, come over to us, and our God will fight for us!"

21So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

21So we worked hard, half of us holding spears from dawn to dusk.

22At 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.”

22At the same time I told the people, "Let's have everyone sleep at night inside Jerusalem with their servants, so they can guard us at night and work during the day.

23So 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.

23No one—neither I, my allies, my servants, nor the bodyguards who accompanied me—changed clothes. Everyone carried a weapon even while going for water.

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