| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews | 1When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews |
| 2before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” | 2before his colleagues and the powerful men 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?" |
| 3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!” | 3Then 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!" |
| 4Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. | 4Listen, 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. |
| 5Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders. | 5Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked the builders. |
| 6So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. | 6So 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. |
| 7When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious, | 7When 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. |
| 8and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance. | 8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. |
| 9So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night. | 9So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. |
| 10Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.” | 10In Judah, it was said: The strength of the laborer fails, since there is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall. |
| 11And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.” | 11And our enemies said, "They won't know or see anything until we're among them and can kill them and stop the work." |
| 12At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” | 12When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, "Everywhere you turn, they attack us." |
| 13So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. | 13So 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. |
| 14After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said 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 and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” | 14After 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." |
| 15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. | 15When 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. |
| 16And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah | 16From 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, |
| 17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. | 17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. |
| 18And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me. | 18Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me. |
| 19Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall. | 19Then 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. |
| 20Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!” | 20Wherever you hear the trumpet sound, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!" |
| 21So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. | 21So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. |
| 22At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” | 22At 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." |
| 23So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water. | 23And I, my brothers, my men, and the guards with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing. |
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