Nehemiah 4 - American Standard Version (ASV)

4 But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? [a]will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned? 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a [b]fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall. 4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; 5 and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. 6 So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half the height thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that [c]the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth; 8 and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. 9 But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12 And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times [d]from all places, Ye must return unto us. 13 Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the [e]rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind [f]all the house of Judah. 17 They that builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon; 18 and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the [g]rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another: 20 in what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God will fight for us.

21 So we wrought in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, [h]every one went with his weapon to the water.

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 4:2 Or, will they leave to themselves aught? Or, will men let them alone?
  2. Nehemiah 4:3 Or, jackal
  3. Nehemiah 4:7 Hebrew healing went up upon the walls.
  4. Nehemiah 4:12 Or, From all places whence ye shall return they will be upon us
  5. Nehemiah 4:14 Or, deputies
  6. Nehemiah 4:16 Or, all the house of Judah that builded the wall. And they that etc.
  7. Nehemiah 4:19 Or, deputies
  8. Nehemiah 4:23 The text is obscure.

You Might Also Like:

Nehemiah 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 And it cometh to pass, when Sanballat hath heard that we are building the wall, that it is displeasing to him, and he is very angry and mocketh at the Jews, 2 and saith before his brethren and the force of Samaria, yea, he saith, `What [are] the weak Jews doing? are they left to themselves? do the...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 And it was done, when Sanballat had heard, that we builded the wall, he was full wroth, and he was stirred greatly, and he scorned the Jews. (And it was done, when Sanballat heard, that we were rebuilding the wall, he was very angry, and was greatly stirred up, and he scorned the Jews.) 2 And he s...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Wi...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 When word of our progress in rebuilding the wall reached Sanballat, he became enraged. His anger spilled over into mockery of the Jews, 2 and before his companions and the Samaritan army, he unleashed a torrent of ridicule and abuse.It is hard to imagine the intense pressures and various points o...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

4 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was proceeding and that the breaches had begun to be closed, they became extremely angry. 2 They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to st...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Hostile Plots Thwarted4 [a] Now when Sanbal′lat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brethren and of the army of Samar′ia, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrif...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Hostile Plots Thwarted4 [a] Now when Sanbal′lat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brethren and of the army of Samar′ia, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrif...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Hostile Plots Thwarted4 [a] Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews. 2 He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Wi...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Hostile Plots Thwarted4 [a]Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews.(A)2 He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it by themselves?[b] Will they ...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding4 [a]Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they ca...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Working and Watching at the Same Time4 When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall again, he became very angry. He was filled with anger and he made fun of the Jews. 2 He said to his brothers and the rich men of Samaria, “What are these weak Jews doing? Are they going to build things again ...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Wall Defended Against Enemies4 But it so happened, (A)when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify th...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Opposition to the rebuilding4 [a]When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and 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 th...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Opposition to the Rebuilding4 [a]When Sanballat(A) heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates(B) and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Wi...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Nehemiah’s Enemies Oppose the Rebuilding4 Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall. So he became very angry and upset. He made fun of the Jews. 2 He spoke to his friends and the army of Samaria. He said, “What are those Jews trying to do? Can they make their city wall like new again? Will t...
Read More

Nehemiah 4 - New English Translation (NET)

Opposition to the Work Continues4 (3:33)[a] Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his colleagues[b] and the army of Samaria he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themsel...
Read More