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Chapter 4
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Verse 1

But it came to pass that, when Sanballat{H5571} heard{H8085} that we were building{H1129} the wall,{H2346} he was wroth,{H2734} and took great{H7235} indignation,{H3707} and mocked{H3932} the Jews.{H3064}

Verse 2

And he spake{H559} before{H6440} his brethren{H251} and the army{H2428} of Samaria,{H8111} and said,{H559} What are these feeble{H537} Jews{H3064} doing?{H6213} will they fortify{H5800} themselves? will they sacrifice?{H2076} will they make an end{H3615} in a day?{H3117} will they revive{H2421} the stones{H68} out of the heaps{H6194} of rubbish,{H6083} seeing they are burned?{H8313}

Verse 3

Now Tobiah{H2900} the Ammonite{H5984} was by him,{H681} and he said,{H559} Even that which they are building,{H1129} if a fox{H7776} go up,{H5927} he shall break down{H6555} their stone{H68} wall.{H2346}

Verse 4

Hear,{H8085} O our God;{H430} for we are despised:{H939} and turn{H7725} back their reproach{H2781} upon their own head,{H7218} and give{H5414} them up for a spoil{H961} in a land{H776} of captivity;{H7633}

Verse 5

and cover{H3680} not their iniquity,{H5771} and let not their sin{H2403} be blotted out{H4229} from before{H6440} thee; for they have provoked [thee] to anger{H3707} before the builders.{H1129}

Verse 6

So we built{H1129} the wall;{H2346} and all the wall{H2346} was joined together{H7194} unto half{H2677} [the height] thereof: for the people{H5971} had a mind{H3820} to work.{H6213}

Verse 7

But it came to pass that, when Sanballat,{H5571} and Tobiah,{H2900} and the Arabians,{H6163} and the Ammonites,{H5984} and the Ashdodites,{H796} heard{H8085} that the repairing of the walls{H2346} of Jerusalem{H3389} went forward,{H724} [and] that the breaches{H6555} began{H2490} to be stopped,{H5640} then they were very{H3966} wroth;{H2734}

Verse 8

and they conspired{H7194} all of them together{H3162} to come{H935} and fight{H3898} against Jerusalem,{H3389} and to cause confusion{H6213} therein.

Verse 9

But we made our prayer{H6419} unto our God,{H430} and set{H5975} a watch{H4929} against them day{H3119} and night,{H3915} because{H6440} of them.

Verse 10

And Judah{H3063} said,{H559} The strength{H3581} of the bearers of burdens{H5449} is decayed,{H3782} and there is much{H7235} rubbish;{H6083} so that we are not able{H3201} to build{H1129} the wall.{H2346}

Verse 11

And our adversaries{H6862} said,{H559} They shall not know,{H3045} neither see,{H7200} till we come{H935} into the midst{H8432} of{H8432} them, and slay{H2026} them, and cause the work{H4399} to cease.{H7673}

Verse 12

And it came to pass that, when the Jews{H3064} that dwelt{H3427} by them{H681} came,{H935} they said{H559} unto us ten{H6235} times{H6471} from all places,{H4725} Ye must return{H7725} unto us.

Verse 13

Therefore set{H5975} I in the lowest{H8482} parts{H4725} of the space behind{H310} the wall,{H2346} in the open places,{H6706} I set{H5975} [there] the people{H5971} after their families{H4940} with their swords,{H2719} their spears,{H7420} and their bows.{H7198}

Verse 14

And I looked,{H7200} and rose up,{H6965} and said{H559} unto the nobles,{H2715} and to the rulers,{H5461} and to the rest{H3499} of the people,{H5971} Be not ye afraid{H3372} of them:{H6440} remember{H2142} the Lord,{H136} who is great{H1419} and terrible,{H3372} and fight{H3898} for your brethren,{H251} your sons,{H1121} and your daughters,{H1323} your wives,{H802} and your houses.{H1004}

Verse 15

And it came to pass, when our enemies{H341} heard{H8085} that it was known{H3045} unto us, and God{H430} had brought{H6565} their counsel{H6098} to nought,{H6565} that we returned{H7725} all of us to the wall,{H2346} every one{H376} unto his work.{H4399}

Verse 16

And it came to pass from that time{H3117} forth, that half{H2677} of my servants{H5288} wrought{H6213} in the work,{H4399} and half{H2677} of them held{H2388} the spears,{H7420} the shields,{H4043} and the bows,{H7198} and the coats{H8302} of mail; and the rulers{H8269} were behind{H310} all the house{H1004} of Judah.{H3063}

Verse 17

They all builded{H1129} the wall{H2346} and they that bare{H5375} burdens{H5447} laded{H6006} themselves; every one with one{H259} of his hands{H3027} wrought{H6213} in the work,{H4399} and with the other{H259} held{H2388} his weapon;{H7973}

Verse 18

and the builders,{H1129} every one{H376} had his sword{H2719} girded{H631} by his side,{H4975} and so builded.{H1129} And he that sounded{H8628} the trumpet{H7782} was by me.{H681}

Verse 19

And I said{H559} unto the nobles,{H2715} and to the rulers{H5461} and to the rest{H3499} of the people,{H5971} The work{H4399} is great{H7235} and large,{H7342} and we are separated{H6504} upon the wall,{H2346} one{H376} far from{H7350} another:{H251}

Verse 20

in what place{H4725} soever ye hear{H8085} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet,{H7782} resort{H6908} ye thither unto us; our God{H430} will fight{H3898} for us.

Verse 21

So we wrought{H6213} in the work:{H4399} and half{H2677} of them held{H2388} the spears{H7420} from the rising{H5927} of the morning{H7837} till the stars{H3556} appeared.{H3318}

Verse 22

Likewise at the same time{H6256} said{H559} I unto the people,{H5971} Let every one{H376} with his servant{H5288} lodge{H3885} within{H8432} Jerusalem,{H3389} that in the night{H3915} they may be a guard{H4929} to us, and may labor{H4399} in the day.{H3117}

Verse 23

So neither I, nor my brethren,{H251} nor my servants,{H5288} nor the men{H582} of the guard{H4929} that followed{H310} me, none of us{H587} put off{H6584} our clothes,{H899} every one{H376} [went with] his weapon{H7973} [to] the water.{H4325}

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