| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2He 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?" |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Now 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!" |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Hear, 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. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Now 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. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Thus 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." |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work." |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12When 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," |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13then 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. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14When 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." |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15When 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. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16From 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. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Those 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. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19I 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. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20"At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22At 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." |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23So 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. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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