Building Under Threat
Nehemiah 4
When Sanballat, Tobiah, and their allies plot to attack Jerusalem and halt the work, Nehemiah sets armed guards and organizes the builders so that each works with one hand and holds a weapon with the other, keeping watch day and night.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonBut when Sanaballat and Tobias, and the Arabs and the Ammonites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem advanced in height, and that the breaches began to be stopped, it appeared to them very vexatious,
BrentonBut it came to pass, when Sanaballat and Tobia, and the Arabians, and the Ammanites, heard that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing, and that the breaches began to be stopped, that it appeared very grievous to them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσε Σαναβαλλὰτ καὶ Τωβία καὶ οἱ Ἄραβες καὶ οἱ Ἀμμανίται, ὅτι ἀνέβη ἡ φυὴ τοῖς τείχεσιν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ὅτι ἤρξαντο αἱ διασφαγαὶ ἀναφράσσεσθαι, καὶ πονηρὸν αὐτοῖς ἐφάνη σφόδρα.
KJVBut it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
JPSBut it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth;
2
Thomsonand they all assembled together to come and attack Jerusalem, and lay it waste.
BrentonAnd all of them assembled together, to come to fight against Jerusalem, and to destroy it utterly.
GreekΚαὶ συνήχθησαν πάντες ἐπιτοαυτὸ, ἐλθεῖν παρατάξασθαι ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ ποιῆσαι αὐτὴν ἀφανῆ.
KJVAnd conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
JPSand they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.
3
ThomsonUpon this we prayed to our God, and posted our guards against them day and night for fear of them,
BrentonSo we prayed to our God and set watchmen against them day and night, because of them.
GreekΚαὶ προσηυξάμεθα πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐστήσαμεν προφύλακας ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν.
KJVNevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
JPSBut we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
4
Thomsonthough Juda said, Were the power of these enemies broken, there is so much rubbish that we cannot rebuild the wall;
BrentonAnd Juda said, The strength of the enemies is broken, yet there is much rubbish, and we shall not be able to build the wall.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἰούδας, συνετρίβη ἡ ἰσχὺς τῶν ἐχθρῶν, καὶ ὁ χοῦς πολὺς, καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐ δυνησόμεθα οἰκοδομεῖν ἐν τῷ τείχει.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.’
5
Thomsonand they who afflicted us said, They shall not know nor see till we are in the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
BrentonAnd they that afflicted us said, They shall not know, and they shall not see, until we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν οἱ θλίβοντες ἡμᾶς, οὐ γνώσονται καὶ οὐκ ὄψονται, ἕως ὅτου ἔλθωμεν εἰς μέσον αὐτῶν, καὶ φονεύσωμεν αὐτοὺς καὶ καταπαύσωμεν τὸ ἔργον.
KJVAnd our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
JPSAnd 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.’
6
ThomsonAnd when the Jews who dwelt near them came and told us, They are coming against us from all quarters,
BrentonAnd it came to pass, when the Jews who lived near them came, that they said to us, They are coming up against us from every quarter.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤλθοσαν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι οἱ οἰκοῦντες ἐχόμενα αὐτῶν, καὶ εἴποσαν ἡμῖν, ἀναβαίνουσιν ἐκ πάντων τῶν τόπων ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς.
KJVAnd it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
JPSAnd it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times: ‘Ye must return unto us from all places.’
7
ThomsonI then posted, for the lowest parts of the place in the fortified posts behind the wall, the spear-men and bow-men; and stationed the people with their swords by communities;
BrentonSo I set men in the lowest part of the place behind the wall in the lurking-places, I even set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
GreekΚαὶ ἔστησα εἰς τὰ κατώτατα τοῦ τόπου κατόπισθεν τοῦ τείχους ἐν τοῖς σκεπεινοῖς, καὶ ἔστησα τὸν λαὸν κατὰ δήμους μετὰ ῥομφαιῶν αὐτῶν, λόγχας αὐτῶν, καὶ τόξα αὐτῶν.
KJVTherefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
JPSTherefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
8
Thomsonand having taken a view, I arose and said to the nobles, and to the officers, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them. Remember our God Who is great and terrible; and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.
BrentonAnd I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles, and to the captains, and to the rest of the people, Be not afraid of them: remember our great and terrible God, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
GreekΚαὶ εἶδον καὶ ἀνέστην, καὶ εἶπα πρὸς τοὺς ἐντίμους καὶ πρὸς τοὺς στρατηγοὺς καὶ πρὸς τοὺς καταλοίπους τοῦ λαοῦ, μὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, μνήσθητε τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ φοβεροῦ, καὶ παρατάξασθε περὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν, υἱῶν ὑμῶν, θυγατέρων ὑμῶν, γυναικῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ οἴκων ὑμῶν.
KJVAnd I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the LORD, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
JPSAnd I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people: ‘Be not ye afraid of them; remember the Lord, who is great and awful, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses.’
9
ThomsonAnd when our enemies heard that we had got intelligence; and God had frustrated their designs, we all returned to the wall, every man to his work.
BrentonAnd it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was made known to us, and God had frustrated their counsel, that we all returned to the wall, every man to his work.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἤκουσαν οἱ ἐχθροὶ ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐγνώσθη ἡμῖν, καὶ διεσκέδασεν ὁ Θεὸς τὴν βουλὴν αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐπεστρέψαμεν πάντες ἡμεῖς εἰς τὸ τεῖχος, ἀνὴρ εἰς τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
10
ThomsonAnd from that day one half of them who had been drawn off carried on the work, and the other half was kept ready with spears and shields, and bows and breastplates; and the chiefs were behind all the house of Juda
BrentonAnd it came to pass from that day that half of them that had been driven forth, wrought the work, and half of them kept guard; and there were spears, and shields, and bows, and breast-plates, and rulers behind the whole house of Juda,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης ἥμισυ τῶν ἐκτετιναγμένων ἐποίουν τὸ ἔργον, καὶ ἥμισυ αὐτῶν ἀντείχοντο, καὶ λόγχαι καὶ θυρεοὶ καὶ τόξα καὶ θώρακες καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ὀπίσω παντὸς οἴκου Ἰούδα τῶν οἰκοδομούντων ἐν τῷ τείχει,
KJVAnd it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
JPSAnd 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 all the house of Judah.
11
Thomsonwho were building the wall. And they who were employed in carrying burdens were armed. With one hand they did their work, and with the other grasped a javelin.
Brentoneven of them that were building the wall:—and those who carried the burdens were under arms: each with one hand wrought his work, and with the other held his dart.
Greekκαὶ οἱ αἴροντες ἐν τοῖς ἀρτῆρσιν ἐν ὅπλοις· ἐν μιᾷ χειρὶ ἐποίει αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔργον, καὶ ἐν μιᾷ ἐκράτει τὴν βολίδα.
KJVThey which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
JPSThey that builded the wall and they that bore burdens laded themselves, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
12
ThomsonAnd the builders had every man his sword girded on his loins while they were building. And near every chief was a trumpeter with a horn.
BrentonAnd the builders wrought each man having his sword girt upon his loins, and so they built: and the trumpeter with his trumpet next to him.
GreekΚαὶ οἱ οἰκοδόμοι ἀνὴρ ῥομφαίαν αὐτοῦ ἐζωσμένος ἐπὶ τὴν ὀσφῦν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾠκοδομοῦσαν· καὶ ὁ σαλπίζων ἐν τῇ κερατίνῃ ἐχόμενα αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
JPS—
13
ThomsonAnd I said to the nobles and to the chiefs, and to the rest of the people, The work is extensive and large, and we are scattered on the wall, one chief far from another.
BrentonAnd I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and abundant, and we are dispersed upon the wall, each at a great distance from his brother.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα πρὸς τοὺς ἐντίμους καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ πρὸς τοὺς καταλοίπους τοῦ λαοῦ, τὸ ἔργον πλατὺ καὶ πολὺ, καὶ ἡμεῖς σκορπιζόμεθα ἐπὶ τοῦ τείχους μακρὰν ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd I said unto the nobles, and to the 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.
JPSAnd I said unto the nobles, and to the 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;
14
ThomsonIn what place soever you hear the sound of the trumpet, thither you must assemble to us, and our God will fight for us.
BrentonIn whatsoever place ye shall hear the sound of the cornet, thither gather yourselves together to us; and our God shall fight for us.
GreekἘν τόπῳ οὗ ἐὰν ἀκούσητε τὴν φωνὴν τῆς κερατίνης, ἐκεῖ συναχθήσεσθε πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν πολεμήσει περὶ ἡμῶν.
KJVIn what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
JPSin what place soever ye hear the sound of the horn, resort ye thither unto us; our God will fight for us.’
15
ThomsonSo while we were carrying on the work, one half of them held their spears from break of day till the stars appeared.
BrentonSo we continued labouring at the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.
GreekΚαὶ ἡμεῖς ποιοῦντες τὸ ἔργον, καὶ ἥμισυ αὐτῶν κρατοῦντες τὰς λόγχας ἀπὸ ἀναβάσεως τοῦ ὄρθρου ἕως ἐξόδου τῶν ἄστρων.
KJVSo we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
JPSSo we wrought in the work; and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
16
ThomsonAnd at that time I said to the people, let every man with his youths, lodge in Jerusalem, and let the night be devoted to watching and the day to work.
BrentonAnd at that time I said to the people, Lodge ye every man with his servant in the midst of Jerusalem, and let the night be a watch-time to you, and the day a work-time.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ εἶπα τῷ λαῷ, ἕκαστος μετὰ τοῦ νεανίσκου αὐτοῦ αὐλίσθητε ἐν μέσῳ Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ ἔστω ὑμῖν ἡ νὺξ προφυλακὴ, καὶ ἡ ἡμέρα ἔργον.
KJVLikewise 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 labour on the day.
JPSLikewise 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 labour in the day.’
17
ThomsonNow I myself mounted guard, and the men on duty attended me, and not a man of us put off our clothes.
BrentonAnd I was there, and the watchmen behind me, and there was not a man of us that put off his garments.
GreekΚαὶ ἤμην ἐγὼ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς προφυλακῆς ὀπίσω μου, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐκδιδυσκόμενος ἀνὴρ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ.
KJV—
JPS—