Nehemiah 4 HCSB NIV Parallel

◄ Nehemiah 4 ►

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Holman Christian Standard Bible

New International Version

1When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews

1When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,

2before his colleagues and the powerful men of Samaria, and said, "What are these pathetic Jews doing? Can they restore it by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they ever finish it? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?"

2and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble--burned as they are?"

3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, "Indeed, even if a fox climbed up what they are building, he would break down their stone wall!"

3Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building--even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!"

4Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.

4Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.

5Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked the builders.

5Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.

6So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working.

6So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

7When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious.

7But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion.

8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.

9So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.

9But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

10In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.

10Meanwhile, 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."

11And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work."

11Also 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."

12When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, "Everywhere you turn, they attack us."

12Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."

13So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.

13Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.

14After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes."

14After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

15When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall.

15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

16From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah,

16From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah

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

17who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,

18Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me.

18and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

19Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: "The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall.

19Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.

20Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!"

20Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"

21So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out.

21So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.

22At that time, I also said to the people, "Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day."

22At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day."

23And I, my brothers, my men, and the guards with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.

23Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

New International Version (NIV)

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