New American Standard Bible 1995

Nehemiah 4

Work Is Ridiculed

1Now it cameH1961about that whenH3512SanballatH5571heardH8085that we were rebuildingבוֹנִים֙vo.NimH1129the wallH2346,he becameוַיִּ֣חַרvai.Yi.charH2734furiousוַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.charH2734and veryהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235angryוַיִּכְעַ֖סvai.yikh.'AsH3707and mockedוַיַּלְעֵ֖גvai.yal.'EgH3932the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

2He spokeוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559in the presenceלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440of his brothersאֶחָ֗יו'e.ChavH251and thewealthyוְחֵיל֙ve.CheilH2428menof Samariaשֹֽׁמְר֔וֹןsho.me.RonH8111and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמָ֛הmahH4100are these feebleהָאֲמֵלָלִ֖יםha.'a.me.la.LimH537Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֥יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064doingH6213?Are they going to restoreהֲיַעַזְב֨וּha.ya.'az.VuH5800itfor themselves? Can they offerהֲיִזְבָּ֙חוּ֙ha.yiz.Ba.chuH2076sacrificesH2076?Can they finishהַיְכַלּ֣וּhay.kha.LuH3615in a dayבַיּ֔וֹםvai.YomH3117?Can they reviveהַיְחַיּ֧וּhay.chai.YuH2421the stonesהָאֲבָנִ֛יםha.'a.va.NimH68from thedustyהֶעָפָ֖רhe.'a.FarH6083rubbleמֵעֲרֵמ֥וֹתme.'a.re.MotH6194even the burnedשְׂרוּפֽוֹת׃se.ru.FotH8313ones?”

3Now Tobiahוְטוֹבִיָּ֥הve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָעַמֹּנִ֖יha.'a.mo.NiH5984wasnearאֶצְל֑וֹ'etz.LoH681him and he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Evenגַּ֚םgamH1571whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834they are buildingבּוֹנִ֔יםbo.NimH1129--ifאִם־'im-H518a foxשׁוּעָ֔לshu.'AlH7776shouldjumpיַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.LehH5927on it,he would breakוּפָרַ֖ץu.fa.RatzH6555their stoneאַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'av.nei.HemH68wallחוֹמַ֥תcho.MatH2346downH6555!”

4Hearשְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'H8085,O our Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,howכִּֽי־ki-H3588we are despisedבוּזָ֔הvu.ZahH939!Returnוְהָשֵׁ֥בve.ha.ShevH7725their reproachחֶרְפָּתָ֖םcher.pa.TamH2781on their own headsרֹאשָׁ֑םro.ShamH7218and giveוּתְנֵ֥םu.te.NemH5414them up for plunderלְבִזָּ֖הle.vi.ZahH961in a landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of captivityשִׁבְיָֽה׃shiv.YahH7633.

5Do notforgiveתְּכַס֙te.KhasH3680their iniquityעֲוֹנָ֔ם'a.vo.NamH5771and let not their sinוְחַטָּאתָ֖םve.cha.ta.TamH2403be blottedתִּמָּחֶ֑הti.ma.ChehH4229out beforeמִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָmi.le.fa.Nei.khaH4480 H6440You, for they havedemoralizedהִכְעִ֖יסוּ לְנֶ֥גֶדhikh.'I.su le.Ne.gedH3707 H5048the buildersהַבּוֹנִֽים׃ha.bo.NimH1129.

6So we builtוַנִּבְנֶה֙va.niv.NehH1129the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346and the wholeH3605wallהַחוֹמָ֖הha.cho.MahH2346was joinedH7194togetherH7194to halfחֶצְיָ֑הּchetz.YahH2677its height,for the peopleלָעָ֖םla.'AmH5971hadH1961amindלֵ֦בlevH3820to workלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ פla.'a.SotH6213.

7Now whenH3512Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֡טsan.va.LatH5571,Tobiahוְ֠טוֹבִיָּהVe.toi.yahH2900,the Arabsוְהָעַרְבִ֨יםve.ha.'ar.VimH6163,the Ammonitesוְהָעַמֹּנִ֜יםve.ha.'a.mo.NimH5984and the Ashdoditesוְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗יםve.ha.'ash.do.DimH796heardשָׁמַ֣עsha.Ma'H8085that therepairאֲרוּכָה֙'a.ru.KhahH724of the wallsH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389wentעָלְתָ֤ה'al.TahH5927on, andthat the breachesהַפְּרֻצִ֖יםha.pe.ru.TzimH6555beganהֵחֵ֥לּוּhe.Che.luH2490to be closedלְהִסָּתֵ֑םle.hi.sa.TemH5640,they were veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966angryוַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.charH2734.

8Allכֻלָּם֙khu.LamH3605of themconspiredוַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּvai.yik.she.RuH7194togetherH3164to comeלָב֖וֹאla.Vo'H935andfightH3898against Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389and to causeוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתve.la.'a.SotH6213a disturbanceתּוֹעָֽה׃to.'AhH8442in it.

Discouragement Overcome

9But we prayedוַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖לva.nit.pa.LelH6419to our GodH430,and becauseH5921of them wesetוַנַּעֲמִ֨ידva.na.'a.MidH5975up a guardמִשְׁמָ֧רmish.MarH4929againstH5921them dayיוֹמָ֥םyo.MamH3119and nightוָלַ֖יְלָהva.Lay.lahH3915.

10Thusin JudahH3063it was saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “The strengthכֹּ֣חַKo.achH3581of the burdenH5449bearersH5449is failingכָּשַׁל֙ka.ShalH3782,Yet there is muchהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235rubbishוְהֶעָפָ֖רve.he.'a.FarH6083;And we ourselvesוַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙va.'a.Nach.nuH587are unableלֹ֣א נוּכַ֔לlo' nu.KhalH3808 H3201To rebuildלִבְנ֖וֹתliv.NotH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָֽה׃ba.cho.MahH2346.”

11Our enemiesצָרֵ֗ינוּtza.Rei.nuH6862saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “They will not knowיֵדְעוּ֙ye.de.'UH3045or seeיִרְא֔וּyir.'UH7200untilעַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־'ad 'a.Sher-H5704 H834we comeנָב֥וֹאna.Vo'H935amongאֶל־ תּוֹכָ֖ם'el- to.KhamH413 H8432them, killוַהֲרַגְנ֑וּםva.ha.rag.NumH2026them and putוְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּve.hish.Bat.nuH7673a stopH7673to the workH4399.”

12WhenH3512the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֔יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064who livedהַיֹּשְׁבִ֖יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427nearH681them cameבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935and toldוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559us tenעֶ֣שֶׂר'E.serH6235timesפְּעָמִ֔יםpe.'a.MimH6471, “They will come up againstH5921us from everyמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605placeהַמְּקֹמ֖וֹתha.me.ko.MotH4725whereH834you may turnתָּשׁ֥וּבוּta.Shu.vuH7725,”

13then I stationedוָֽאַעֲמִ֞ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975menin the lowestH8482partsמִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹתmi.tach.ti.YotH8482of the spaceלַמָּק֛וֹםla.ma.KomH4725behindמֵאַחֲרֵ֥יme.'a.cha.ReiH310the wallH2346, theexposedH6706placesH6706, and Istationedוָֽאַעֲמִ֤ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975the peopleH5971in familiesלְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹתle.mish.pa.ChotH4940with their swordsחַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛םchar.vo.tei.HemH2719,spearsרָמְחֵיהֶ֖םra.me.chei.HemH7420and bowsוְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ve.ka.she.to.tei.HemH7198.

14When I sawוָאֵ֣רֶאva.'E.re'H7200their fear,I roseוָאָק֗וּםva.'a.KumH6965and spokeוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559to the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715,the officialsהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461and the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971: “Do not be afraidתִּֽירְא֖וּti.re.'UH3372of them; rememberזְכֹ֔רוּze.Kho.ruH2142the Lordאֲדֹנָ֞י'a.do.NaiH136who is greatהַגָּד֤וֹלha.ga.DolH1419and awesomeוְהַנּוֹרָא֙ve.ha.no.Ra'H3372, andfightH3898for your brothersאֲחֵיכֶם֙'a.chei.KhemH251,your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֣םbe.nei.KhemH1121,your daughtersוּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔םu.ve.no.tei.KhemH1323,your wivesנְשֵׁיכֶ֖םne.shei.KhemH802and your housesוּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃ פu.va.tei.KhemH1004.”

15WhenH3512our enemiesH340heardשָׁמְע֤וּsha.me.'UH8085that it was knownנ֣וֹדַֽעNo.da'H3045to us, and thatGodהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430had frustratedוַיָּ֥פֶרvai.Ya.ferH6565their planעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098,then allכֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ku.La.nuH3605of us returnedוַנָּ֤שָׁבva.na.shuvH7725to the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346,eachH376oneאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376to his workH4399.

16From that dayH3117on, halfחֲצִ֣יcha.TziH2677of my servantsH5288carriedעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213on the workH4399while halfוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677of them heldמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388the spearsוְהָרְמָחִ֣יםve.ha.re.ma.ChimH7420,the shieldsהַמָּגִנִּ֔יםha.ma.gi.NimH4043,the bowsוְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹתve.ha.ke.sha.TotH7198and the breastplatesוְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑יםve.ha.shir.yo.NimH8302;and the captainsוְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔יםve.Ha.sa.RimH8269werebehindאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310the wholeכָּל־kol-H3605houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063.

17Those who were rebuildingהַבּוֹנִ֧יםha.bo.NimH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָ֛הba.cho.MahH2346and those who carriedוְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥יםve.ha.no.se.'ImH5375burdensבַּסֶּ֖בֶלba.Se.velH5447tookH6006theirloadH6006with oneבְּאַחַ֤תbe.'a.ChatH259handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027doingעֹשֶׂ֣ה'o.SehH6213the workבַמְּלָאכָ֔הva.me.la.KhahH4399and the otherוְאַחַ֖תve.'a.ChatH259holdingמַחֲזֶ֥קֶתma.cha.Ze.ketH2388a weaponH7973.

18As for the buildersוְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔יםve.Ha.bo.NimH1129,eachאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376worehis swordחַרְבּ֛וֹchar.BoH2719girdedאֲסוּרִ֥ים'a.su.RimH631at his sideמָתְנָ֖יוma.te.NavH4975as he builtוּבוֹנִ֑יםu.vo.NimH1129, whilethe trumpeterוְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖רve.ha.to.Ke.a' ba.sho.FarH8628 H7782stoodnearאֶצְלִֽי׃'etz.LiH681me.

19I saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559to the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715,the officialsהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461and the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971, “The workהַמְּלָאכָ֥הha.me.la.KhahH4399is greatהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235and extensiveוּרְחָבָ֑הu.re.cha.VahH7342,and we are separatedנִפְרָדִים֙nif.ra.DimH6504on the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346farרְחוֹקִ֖יםre.cho.KimH7350from oneאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376anotherמֵאָחִֽיו׃me.'a.ChivH251.

20At whateverאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834placeבִּמְק֗וֹםbim.KomH4725you hearתִּשְׁמְעוּ֙tish.me.'UH8085the soundק֣וֹלKolH6963of the trumpetהַשּׁוֹפָ֔רha.sho.FarH7782,rallyתִּקָּבְצ֣וּti.ka.ve.TzuH6908to us thereשָׁ֖מָּהSha.mahH8033.Our Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430will fightיִלָּ֥חֶםyi.La.chemH3898for us.”

21So we carriedעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213on the workבַּמְּלָאכָ֑הba.me.la.KhahH4399with halfוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677of them holdingמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388spearsבָּֽרְמָחִ֔יםba.re.ma.ChimH7420fromdawnמֵעֲל֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔חַרme.'a.Lot ha.Sha.charH5927 H7837untilעַ֖ד'adH5704the starsהַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃ha.ko.kha.VimH3556appearedצֵ֥אתtzetH3318.

22At that timeבָּעֵ֤תba.'EtH6256I alsoגַּ֣םgamH1571saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559to the peopleלָעָ֔םla.'AmH5971, “Let eachH376manH376with his servantוְנַעֲר֔וֹve.na.'a.RoH5288spendיָלִ֖ינוּya.Li.nuH3885the nightH3885withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389so that they may be a guardמִשְׁמָ֖רmish.MarH4929for us by nightהַלַּ֛יְלָהha.Lay.lahH3915and a laborerמְלָאכָֽה׃me.la.KhahH4399by dayוְהַיּ֥וֹםve.hai.YomH3117.”

23So neitherH369I, my brothersוְאַחַ֣יve.'a.ChaiH251,my servantsוּנְעָרַ֗יu.ne.'a.RaiH5288,norH369the menH376of the guardהַמִּשְׁמָר֙ha.mish.MarH4929whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834followedאַחֲרַ֔י'a.cha.RaiH310me, noneH369of us removedפֹשְׁטִ֖יםfo.she.TimH6584our clothesבְּגָדֵ֑ינוּbe.ga.Dei.nuH899,eachH376tookhis weaponשִׁלְח֥וֹshil.ChoH7973even tothe waterהַמָּֽיִם׃ סha.Ma.yimH4325.

Work Is Ridiculed

Discouragement Overcome

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4