| New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
| 1Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. | 1 When Sanballat heard that we were reconstructing the wall, he flew into a rage, became indignant, and mocked the Jews. |
| 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?" | 2He addressed his allies and the Samaritan officials, saying "What are these pathetic Jews doing? Are they intending to rebuild it by themselves? Do they intend to offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a single day? Can they make stones from this burned out rubble?" |
| 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!" | 3Tobiah the Ammonite stood to the side, commenting, "If a fox were to jump onto what they're building, it would collapse their stone wall!" |
| 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. | 4"Listen, our God, because we are being mocked. Let their insults fall back on them, and let them be dragged away as captives into exile. |
| 5Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders. | 5Don't atone their iniquity, and don't let their sin be blotted out from before you, because they have demoralized the builders." |
| 6So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. | 6So we rebuilt the wall, completing it halfway up, because the people were committed to working. |
| 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. | 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair work on the Jerusalem wall was progressing and that its breaches were being repaired, they flew into a rage. |
| 8All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. | 8So they all conspired together to invade and fight against Jerusalem, creating confusion there. |
| 9But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. | 9But we prayed to our God. We also set up guards day and night because of them. |
| 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." | 10Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, "The builders are tired and there's so much rubble that we can't reconstruct the wall!" |
| 11Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work." | 11Our enemies said, "Before they notice or see us, we'll penetrate their midst, kill them, and stop the work!" |
| 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," | 12The Jews who lived near them kept coming to us, reporting at least ten times, "They'll attack us from every direction." |
| 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. | 13So I stationed the people by families behind the wall in the lower exposed areas, equipping them with their swords, spears, and bows. |
| 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." | 14Looking things over, I stood up and spoke to the officials, the military leaders, and the rest of the people: "Don't fear them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." |
| 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. | 15Our opponents heard that we had learned about them, that God had brought their plans to failure, and that each and every one of us had come to work on the wall. |
| 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. | 16From that day on, half of my helpers engaged in the work while the other half kept spears, shields, bows, and armor ready. The senior officials backed all of the Judeans |
| 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. | 17who worked on the wall. Those who carried building materials worked with one hand, carrying a spear in the other. |
| 18As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. | 18Each builder worked with a sword strapped to his side, while a trumpeter remained beside me to sound an alarm. |
| 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. | 19I told the officials, rulers, and the rest of the people, "The project is large and extensive, and we are separated from each other on the wall, |
| 20"At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." | 20so wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, come over to us, and our God will fight for us!" |
| 21So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. | 21So we worked hard, half of us holding spears from dawn to dusk. |
| 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." | 22At the same time I told the people, "Let's have everyone sleep at night inside Jerusalem with their servants, so they can guard us at night and work during the day. |
| 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. | 23No one—neither I, my allies, my servants, nor the bodyguards who accompanied me—changed clothes. Everyone carried a weapon even while going for water. |
| 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 | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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