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Nehemiah 4 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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Progress in Spite of Opposition
Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:1 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:2 -

before his colleagues and the powerful men[fn] 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? ”

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:3 -

Then 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! ”

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:4 -

Listen, 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:5 -

Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from your sight, because they have angered[fn] the builders.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:6 -

So 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:7 -

When 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:8 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:9 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:10 -

In Judah, it was said:[fn]

The strength of the laborer fails,

since there is so much rubble.

We will never be able

to rebuild the wall.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:11 -

And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it[fn] until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.”

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:12 -

When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again,[fn] “Everywhere you turn, they attack[fn] us.”

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:13 -

So 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:14 -

After 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.”

Sword and Trowel
Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:15 -

When 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:16 -

From 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,

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:17 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:18 -

Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the one who sounded the ram’s horn was beside me.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:19 -

Then 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.

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:20 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:21 -

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

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:22 -

At 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.”

Unchecked Copy BoxNeh 4:23 -

And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.[fn]

CSB Footnotes
Or the army
Or provoked you in front of
Lit Judah said
Lit won’t know or see
Lit us 10 times
Or again from every place, “You must return to
Lit Each his weapon the water
CSB

Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017, 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Additional information is provided here.

For more information on this translation, see the CSB Preface.

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