Nehemiah 4

Opposition mounts

1 # 4.1 3:33 in Heb When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he became angry and raged. He mocked the Jews, 2saying in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria: “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the piles of rubble, even though they are burned?”

3Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, added: “If even a fox climbs on whatever they build, their wall of stones will crumble.”

4Listen, God; we are despised! Turn their insults to us#4.4 Heb lacks to us. back on their heads and make them like plunder in a captive land. 5Don’t forgive their iniquity or blot out their sins from your sight. They have thrown insults at the builders!

6We continued to build the wall. All of it was joined together, and it reached half of its intended height because the people were eager to work. 7#4.7 4:1 in Heb But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the work on the walls was progressing and the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8They plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it.

9So we prayed to our God and set a guard as protection against them day and night.

10But in Judah it was said,

“The carrier’s strength is failing,

for there is too much rubble.

We are unable to rebuild the wall!”

11Meanwhile, our enemies were saying: “Before they know or see anything, we can be in their midst and start to kill them. We’ll stop the work!”

12Now the Jews who were living near them came and said to us again and again,#4.12 Or ten times from all sides “You must return to us!”#4.12 Heb uncertain

Armed guards protect the builders

13So I took up a position in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall in an open area.#4.13 Heb uncertain Then I stationed the people by families, and they had their swords, spears, and bows. 14After reviewing this, I stood up and said to the officials, the officers, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them! Remember that the LORD is great and awesome! Fight for your families, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses!”

15Then our enemies heard that we had found out and that God had spoiled their plans. So we all returned to doing our own work on the wall. 16But from that day on, only half of my workers continued in the construction, while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Meanwhile, the leaders positioned themselves#4.16 Heb lacks positioned themselves. behind the whole house of Judah, 17who were building the wall. The carriers did their work with a load in one hand and a weapon in the other. 18The builders built with swords fastened in their belts, and the trumpeter stayed by my side.

19Then I said to the officials, the officers, and the rest of the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are far apart from each other along the wall. 20When you hear the trumpet sound, come and gather where we are. Our God will fight for us!” 21So we continued the work, with half of them holding spears from dawn until dusk.

22I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant spend the night in Jerusalem so that we can guard during the night and work during the day.” 23Neither I nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor my bodyguards took off our clothes, even when they sent for water.#4.23 Heb uncertain

Currently Selected:

Nehemiah 4: CEB

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About Common English Bible

Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah’s Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding

1Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall. So he became very angry and upset. He made fun of the Jews. 2He spoke to his friends and the army of Samaria. He said, “What are those Jews trying to do? Can they make their city wall like new again? Will they offer sacrifices? Can they finish everything in a single day? The stones from their city wall and buildings are piled up like trash. And everything has been badly burned. Can they use those stones to rebuild everything again?”

3Tobiah from Ammon was at Sanballat’s side. He said, “What are they building? They’re putting up a stone wall. But suppose a fox climbs on top of it. Even that will break it down!”

4I prayed to God. I said, “Our God, please listen to our prayer. Some people hate us. They’re saying bad things about us. So let others say bad things about them. Let them be carried off like stolen goods. Let them be taken to another country as prisoners. 5Don’t hide your eyes from their guilt. Don’t forgive their sins. They have said bad things about the builders.”

6So we rebuilt the wall. We repaired it until all of it was half as high as we wanted it to be. The people worked with all their heart.

7But Sanballat and Tobiah heard that Jerusalem’s walls continued to be repaired. The Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard about it too. They heard that the gaps in the wall were being filled in. So they were very angry. 8All of them made evil plans to come and fight against Jerusalem. They wanted to stir up trouble against it. 9But we prayed to our God. We put guards on duty day and night to watch out for danger.

10During that time, the people in Judah spoke up. They said, “The workers are getting weaker and weaker all the time. Broken stones are piled up everywhere. They are in our way. So we can’t rebuild the wall.”

11And our enemies said, “We will be right there among them. We’ll kill them. We’ll put an end to their work. We’ll do it before they even know it or see us.”

12Then the Jews who lived near our enemies came to us. They told us ten times, “No matter where you are, they’ll attack us.”

13So I stationed some people behind the lowest parts of the wall. That’s where our enemies could easily attack us. I stationed the people family by family. They had their swords, spears and bows with them. 14I looked things over. Then I stood up and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. I said, “Don’t be afraid of your enemies. Remember the Lord. He is great and powerful. So fight for your families. Fight for your sons and daughters. Fight for your wives and homes.”

15Our enemies heard that we knew what they were trying to do. They heard that God had blocked their evil plans. So all of us returned to the wall. Each of us did our own work.

16From that day on, half of my men did the work. The other half were given spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah. 17The people continued to build the wall. The people who carried supplies did their work with one hand. They held a weapon in the other hand. 18Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who blew the trumpet stayed with me.

19Then I spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. I said, “This is a big job. It covers a lot of territory. We’re separated too far from one another along the wall. 20When you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us at that location. Our God will fight for us!”

21So we continued the work. Half of the men held spears. We worked from the first light of sunrise until the stars came out at night. 22At that time I also spoke to the people. I told them, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night. Then they can guard us at night. And they can work during the day.” 23My relatives and I didn’t take off our clothes. My men and the guards didn’t take theirs off either. Each man kept his weapon with him, even when he went to get water.

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®

Learn More About New International Reader’s Version