New American Standard Bible 2020

Nehemiah 4

Work Is Ridiculed

1Now it cameוַיְהִ֞יva.ye.HiH1961aboutוַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961that whenH3512SanballatH5571heardH8085that we were rebuildingבוֹנִים֙vo.NimH1129the wallH2346,he becameוַיִּ֣חַרvai.Yi.charH2734furiousוַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.charH2734and veryהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235angryוַיִּכְעַ֖סvai.yikh.'AsH3707,and he mockedוַיַּלְעֵ֖גvai.yal.'EgH3932the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

2And he spokeוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559in the presenceלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440of his brothersאֶחָ֗יו'e.ChavH251and thewealthyH2428peopleH2428of Samariaשֹֽׁמְר֔וֹןsho.me.RonH8111and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמָ֛הmahH4100are these feebleהָאֲמֵלָלִ֖יםha.'a.me.la.LimH537Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֥יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064doingH6213?Are they going to restoreהֲיַעַזְב֨וּha.ya.'az.VuH5800the templefor themselves? Can they offerהֲיִזְבָּ֙חוּ֙ha.yiz.Ba.chuH2076sacrificesH2076?Can they finishהַיְכַלּ֣וּhay.kha.LuH3615itin a dayבַיּ֔וֹםvai.YomH3117?Can they reviveהַיְחַיּ֧וּhay.chai.YuH2421the stonesהָאֲבָנִ֛יםha.'a.va.NimH68from theheapsמֵעֲרֵמ֥וֹתme.'a.re.MotH6194of rubbleהֶעָפָ֖רhe.'a.FarH6083,even 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.'AlH7776were tojumpיַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.LehH5927on it,it would breakוּפָרַ֖ץu.fa.RatzH6555their stoneאַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'av.nei.HemH68wallחוֹמַ֥תcho.MatH2346downH6555!”

4Hearשְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'H8085,O our Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,howכִּֽי־ki-H3588we are an object ofcontemptבוּזָ֔הvu.ZahH939!Returnוְהָשֵׁ֥בve.ha.ShevH7725their tauntingחֶרְפָּתָ֖םcher.pa.TamH2781on their own headsרֹאשָׁ֑םro.ShamH7218,and turnוּתְנֵ֥םu.te.NemH5414them into plunderלְבִזָּ֖הle.vi.ZahH961in a landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of captivityשִׁבְיָֽה׃shiv.YahH7633.

5Do notforgiveתְּכַס֙te.KhasH3680their guiltעֲוֹנָ֔ם'a.vo.NamH5771and do not let their sinוְחַטָּאתָ֖םve.cha.ta.TamH2403be wipedH4229outH4229beforeמִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָmi.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.MahH2346,and the entireH3605wallהַחוֹמָ֖הha.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.NimH5984,and 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 beH5640closedH5640,they wereH2734veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966angryH2734.

8So allכֻלָּם֙khu.LamH3605of themconspiredוַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּvai.yik.she.RuH7194togetherH3164to comeלָב֖וֹאla.Vo'H935to fightH3898against Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389and to causeוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתve.la.'a.SotH6213confusionתּוֹעָֽה׃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.

10And soin JudahH3063it was saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559: “The strengthכֹּ֣חַKo.achH3581of the burdenH5449bearersH5449is failingכָּשַׁל֙ka.ShalH3782,Yet there is muchהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235rubbleוְהֶעָפָ֖רve.he.'a.FarH6083;And we ourselvesוַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙va.'a.Nach.nuH587areH3201unableלֹ֣אlo'H3808 H3201To rebuildלִבְנ֖וֹתliv.NotH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָֽה׃ba.cho.MahH2346.”

11And our 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.nuH7673aH7673stopH7673toH7673the 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,the exposedH6706placesH6706, and Istationedוָֽאַעֲמִ֤ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975the peopleH5971in familiesלְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹתle.mish.pa.ChotH4940with their swordsחַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛םchar.vo.tei.HemH2719,spearsרָמְחֵיהֶ֖םra.me.chei.HemH7420,and bowsוְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ve.ka.she.to.tei.HemH7198.

14When I sawוָאֵ֣רֶאva.'E.re'H7200their fear,I stoodוָאָק֗וּםva.'a.KumH6965and saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559to the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715,the officialsהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461,and the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971: “Do not beH3372afraidתִּֽירְא֖וּti.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.KhemH802,and your housesוּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃ פu.va.tei.KhemH1004.”

15Now whenH3512our 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.

16And from that dayH3117on,halfחֲצִ֣יcha.TziH2677of my servantsH5288carriedעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213on the workH4399while halfוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677of them kept holdמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388of the spearsוְהָרְמָחִ֣יםve.ha.re.ma.ChimH7420,the shieldsהַמָּגִנִּ֔יםha.ma.gi.NimH4043,the bowsוְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹתve.ha.ke.sha.TotH7198,and the coatsH8302ofH8302mailH8302;and the captainsוְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔יםve.Ha.sa.RimH8269werebehindאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310allכָּל־kol-H3605the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063.

17Those who were rebuildingהַבּוֹנִ֧יםha.bo.NimH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָ֛הba.cho.MahH2346and those who carriedוְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥יםve.ha.no.se.'ImH5375burdensבַּסֶּ֖בֶלba.Se.velH5447carriedעֹמְשִׂ֑ים'o.me.SimH6006with oneבְּאַחַ֤תbe.'a.ChatH259handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027doingעֹשֶׂ֣ה'o.SehH6213the workבַמְּלָאכָ֔הva.me.la.KhahH4399,and the otherוְאַחַ֖תve.'a.ChatH259keeping holdמַחֲזֶ֥קֶתma.cha.Ze.ketH2388of a weaponH7973.

18As for the buildersוְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔יםve.Ha.bo.NimH1129,eachאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376worehis swordחַרְבּ֛וֹchar.BoH2719strappedאֲסוּרִ֥ים'a.su.RimH631to his waistמָתְנָ֖יוma.te.NavH4975as he builtוּבוֹנִ֑יםu.vo.NimH1129, whilethe trumpeterוְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖רve.ha.to.Ke.a' ba.sho.FarH8628 H7782stoodnearאֶצְלִֽי׃'etz.LiH681me.

19And I saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559to the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715,the officialsהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461,and 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,assembleתִּקָּבְצ֣וּti.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, “EachH376manH376with his servantוְנַעֲר֔וֹve.na.'a.RoH5288shall spendיָלִ֖ינוּya.Li.nuH3885theH3885nightH3885withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,so 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 usremovedפֹשְׁטִ֖יםfo.she.TimH6584our clothesבְּגָדֵ֑ינוּbe.ga.Dei.nuH899;eachH376tookhis weaponשִׁלְח֥וֹshil.ChoH7973even tothe waterהַמָּֽיִם׃ סha.Ma.yimH4325.

Work Is Ridiculed

Discouragement Overcome

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4