The Work Ridiculed

1  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר (when) שָׁמַ֣ע (heard) סַנְבַלַּ֗ט (Sanballat) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנַ֤חְנוּ (we) בוֹנִים֙ (were rebuilding) אֶת־ (-) הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (the wall), וַיִּ֣חַר (became hot) ל֔וֹ (that he) וַיִּכְעַ֖ס (angry) הַרְבֵּ֑ה (and he became greatly), וַיַּלְעֵ֖ג (and he mocked) עַל־ (at) הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ (the Jews). 2  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (And he spoke) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) אֶחָ֗יו (his brothers) וְחֵיל֙ (and the force) שֹֽׁמְר֔וֹן (of Samaria) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), מָ֛ה (What) הַיְּהוּדִ֥ים (Jews) הָאֲמֵלָלִ֖ים (these feeble) עֹשִׂ֑ים (are doing)? הֲיַעַזְב֨וּ (Will they fortify) לָהֶ֤ם (themselves)? הֲיִזְבָּ֙חוּ֙ (Will they offer sacrifices)? הַיְכַלּ֣וּ (Will they complete it) בַיּ֔וֹם (in a day)? הַיְחַיּ֧וּ (Will they revive) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲבָנִ֛ים (the stones) מֵעֲרֵמ֥וֹת (from the heaps) הֶעָפָ֖ר (of the rubble) וְהֵ֥מָּה (and they are)— שְׂרוּפֽוֹת׃ (burned)?

3  וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה (And Tobiah) הָעַמֹּנִ֖י (the Ammonite was) אֶצְל֑וֹ (beside him) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), גַּ֚ם (Even) אֲשֶׁר־ (whatever) הֵ֣ם (they) בּוֹנִ֔ים (are building), אִם־ (if) יַעֲלֶ֣ה (goes up on it) שׁוּעָ֔ל (a fox), וּפָרַ֖ץ (and it will break down) חוֹמַ֥ת (the wall of) אַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃פ (their stones).

4  שְׁמַ֤ע (Hear), אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our God), כִּֽי־ (for) הָיִ֣ינוּ (we are) בוּזָ֔ה (despised)! וְהָשֵׁ֥ב (And turn) חֶרְפָּתָ֖ם (their reproach) אֶל־ (on) רֹאשָׁ֑ם (their own heads), וּתְנֵ֥ם (and give them) לְבִזָּ֖ה (as spoil) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (to a land) שִׁבְיָֽה׃ (of captivity). 5  וְאַל־ (And not) תְּכַס֙ (do cover) עַל־ (over) עֲוֺנָ֔ם (their iniquity) וְחַטָּאתָ֖ם (and their sin) מִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָ (from before You); אַל־ (not) תִּמָּחֶ֑ה (do let it be blotted out), כִּ֥י (for) הִכְעִ֖יסוּ (they have provoked You to anger) לְנֶ֥גֶד (in front of) הַבּוֹנִֽים׃ (the builders).

6  וַנִּבְנֶה֙ (And we built) אֶת־ (-) הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (the wall), וַתִּקָּשֵׁ֥ר (and was joined together) כָּל־ (all) הַחוֹמָ֖ה (the wall) עַד־ (up to) חֶצְיָ֑הּ (half of it), וַיְהִ֧י (and had) לֵ֦ב (a mind) לָעָ֖ם (for the people) לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃פ (to work).

7  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass), כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר (when) שָׁמַ֣ע (heard) סַנְבַלַּ֡ט (Sanballat), וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה (and Tobiah), וְהָעַרְבִ֨ים (and the Arabs), וְהָעַמֹּנִ֜ים (and the Ammonites), וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗ים (and the Ashdodites), כִּֽי־ (that) עָלְתָ֤ה (was progressing) אֲרוּכָה֙ (the repair) לְחֹמ֣וֹת (to the walls) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem) כִּי־ (and) הֵחֵ֥לּוּ (were beginning) הַפְּרֻצִ֖ים (the gaps) לְהִסָּתֵ֑ם (to be closed), וַיִּ֥חַר (that became hot) לָהֶ֖ם (they) מְאֹֽד׃ (very). 8  וַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּ (And conspired) כֻלָּם֙ (all of them) יַחְדָּ֔ו (together) לָב֖וֹא (to come) לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם (to fight) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (against Jerusalem), וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (and to do) ל֖וֹ (to it) תּוֹעָֽה׃ (injury).

Discouragement Overcome

9  וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל (And we made our prayer) אֶל־ (to) אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (our God), וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד (and we set) מִשְׁמָ֧ר (a watch) עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם (against them) יוֹמָ֥ם (day) וָלַ֖יְלָה (and night), מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ (against their faces).

10  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah),

כָּשַׁל֙ (Is failing) כֹּ֣חַ (the power) הַסַּבָּ֔ל (of the laborers),

וְהֶעָפָ֖ר (and the rubble) הַרְבֵּ֑ה (is abundant)

וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ (that we) לֹ֣א (not) נוּכַ֔ל (are able)

לִבְנ֖וֹת (to build) בַּחוֹמָֽה׃ (on the wall).

11  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And said), צָרֵ֗ינוּ (our adversaries) לֹ֤א (Not) יֵדְעוּ֙ (they will know) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִרְא֔וּ (they will see) עַ֛ד (until) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָב֥וֹא (we come) אֶל־ (into) תּוֹכָ֖ם (their midst) וַהֲרַגְנ֑וּם (and kill them) וְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּ (and put an end) אֶת־ (-) הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ (to the work).

12  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), כַּאֲשֶׁר־ (when) בָּ֣אוּ (came) הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים (the Jews) הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (who dwelt) אֶצְלָ֑ם (near them), וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ (that they said) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us) עֶ֣שֶׂר (ten) פְּעָמִ֔ים (times), מִכָּל־ (From all) הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹת (the places) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) תָּשׁ֥וּבוּ (you⁺ return), עָלֵֽינוּ׃ (they will be upon us).

13  וָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד (And I appointed) מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת (at the lowest) לַמָּק֛וֹם (of the places) מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י (at the back) לַחוֹמָ֖ה (of the wall), בַּצְּחִחִיִּים (at the openings). וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד (I even appointed) אֶת־ (-) הָעָם֙ (the people) לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת (by their families) עִם־ (with) חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם (their swords), רָמְחֵיהֶ֖ם (their spears), וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (and their bows).

14  וָאֵ֣רֶא (And I looked), וָאָק֗וּם (and I arose), וָאֹמַ֞ר (and said) אֶל־ (to) הַחֹרִ֤ים (the nobles) וְאֶל־ (and to) הַסְּגָנִים֙ (the leaders) וְאֶל־ (and to) יֶ֣תֶר (the rest) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), אַל־ (Not) תִּֽירְא֖וּ (do be afraid) מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (of them). אֶת־ (-) אֲדֹנָ֞י (the Lord) הַגָּד֤וֹל (great) וְהַנּוֹרָא֙ (and fearsome) זְכֹ֔רוּ (remember), וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֗וּ (and fight) עַל־ (for) אֲחֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ brothers), בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ sons), וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔ם (and your⁺ daughters), נְשֵׁיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ wives), וּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃פ (and your⁺ houses).

15  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ (when) שָׁמְע֤וּ (heard) אוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our enemies) כִּי־ (that) נ֣וֹדַֽע (it was known) לָ֔נוּ (to us) וַיָּ֥פֶר (and had frustrated) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) אֶת־ (-) עֲצָתָ֑ם (their plot), וַנָּשׁוּב (that returned) כֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ (all of us) אֶל־ (to) הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (the wall), אִ֖ישׁ (each man) אֶל־ (to) מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃ (his work). 16  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) מִן־ (from) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֗וּא (that), חֲצִ֣י (that half) נְעָרַי֮ (of my servants) עֹשִׂ֣ים (worked) בַּמְּלָאכָה֒ (at the construction) וְחֶצְיָ֗ם (and half) מַחֲזִיקִים֙ (held) וְהָרְמָחִ֣ים (and both the spears), הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים (the shields), וְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹת (and the bows), וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑ים (and the armor).

וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים (And the leaders were) אַחֲרֵ֖י (behind) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah). 17  הַבּוֹנִ֧ים (Those who built) בַּחוֹמָ֛ה (on the wall) וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים (and the bearers) בַּסֶּ֖בֶל (of the burden) עֹמְשִׂ֑ים (loaded themselves), בְּאַחַ֤ת (so that with one) יָדוֹ֙ (hand) עֹשֶׂ֣ה (they worked) בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה (at the construction), וְאַחַ֖ת (and one) מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת (was grasping) הַשָּֽׁלַח׃ (a weapon). 18  וְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔ים (And of the builders), אִ֥ישׁ (each man) חַרְבּ֛וֹ (had his sword) אֲסוּרִ֥ים (girded) עַל־ (at) מָתְנָ֖יו (his side) וּבוֹנִ֑ים (and as he built). וְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַ (And the one who sounded) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר (with the shofar) אֶצְלִֽי׃ (was beside me).

19  וָאֹמַ֞ר (And I said) אֶל־ (to) הַחֹרִ֤ים (the nobles) וְאֶל־ (and to) הַסְּגָנִים֙ (the prefects) וְאֶל־ (and to) יֶ֣תֶר (the rest) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה (The work is) הַרְבֵּ֖ה (great) וּרְחָבָ֑ה (and extensive), וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ (and we) נִפְרָדִים֙ (are separated) עַל־ (on) הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (the wall) רְחוֹקִ֖ים (far) אִ֥ישׁ (one) מֵאָחִֽיו׃ (from another). 20  בִּמְק֗וֹם (In the place) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ (you⁺ hear) אֶת־ (-) ק֣וֹל (the voice) הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר (of the shofar), שָׁ֖מָּה (there) תִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (gather) אֵלֵ֑ינוּ (to us). אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (Our God) יִלָּ֥חֶם (will fight) לָֽנוּ׃ (for us).

21  וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ (And we) עֹשִׂ֣ים (labored) בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה (in the work), וְחֶצְיָ֗ם (and half) מַחֲזִיקִים֙ (kept hold) בָּֽרְמָחִ֔ים (of the spears) מֵעֲל֣וֹת (from) הַשַּׁ֔חַר (daybreak) עַ֖ד (until) צֵ֥את (the coming forth) הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃ (of the stars). 22  גַּ֣ם (Also) בָּעֵ֤ת (at the time) הַהִיא֙ (that) אָמַ֣רְתִּי (I said) לָעָ֔ם (to the people), אִ֣ישׁ (Each man) וְנַעֲר֔וֹ (and his servant) יָלִ֖ינוּ (should lodge) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem), וְהָֽיוּ־ (that they may be) לָ֧נוּ (to us) הַלַּ֛יְלָה (by the night) מִשְׁמָ֖ר (a guard) וְהַיּ֥וֹם (and by the day) מְלָאכָֽה׃ (a working party).

23  וְאֵ֨ין (And none)— אֲנִ֜י (I) וְאַחַ֣י (and my brothers) וּנְעָרַ֗י (and my servants) וְאַנְשֵׁ֤י (and the men) הַמִּשְׁמָר֙ (of the guard) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) אַחֲרַ֔י (were behind me)— אֵין־ (none) אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (of us) פֹשְׁטִ֖ים (took off) בְּגָדֵ֑ינוּ (our garments); אִ֖ישׁ (each man) שִׁלְח֥וֹ (had his weapon) הַמָּֽיִם׃ס (at the water).