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1. When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was progressing-- for the gaps were beginning to be closed up-- they became extremely angry.
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1. But it came to pass H1961 , that when H834 Sanballat H5571 heard H8085 that H3588 we H587 built H1129 H853 the wall H2346 , he was wroth H2734 , and took great indignation H7235 H3707 , and mocked H3932 H5921 the Jews H3064 .
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2. Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion.
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2. And he spoke H559 before H6440 his brethren H251 and the army H2428 of Samaria H8111 , and said H559 , What H4100 do H6213 these feeble H537 Jews H3064 ? will they fortify H5800 themselves? will they sacrifice H2076 ? will they make an end H3615 in a day H3117 ? will they revive H2421 H853 the stones H68 out of the heaps H4480 H6194 of the rubbish H6083 which H1992 are burned H8313 ?
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3. We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do.
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3. Now Tobiah H2900 the Ammonite H5984 was by H681 him , and he said H559 , Even H1571 that which H834 they H1992 build H1129 , if H518 a fox H7776 go up H5927 , he shall even break down H6555 their stone H68 wall H2346 .
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4. Meanwhile the Judahites were saying: "Slackened is the bearers' strength, there is no end to the rubbish; Never shall we be able the wall to rebuild."
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4. Hear H8085 , O our God H430 ; for H3588 we are H1961 despised H939 : and turn H7725 their reproach H2781 upon H413 their own head H7218 , and give H5414 them for a prey H961 in the land H776 of captivity H7633 :
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5. Our enemies thought, "Before they are aware of it or see us, we shall come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work."
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5. And cover H3680 H5921 not H408 their iniquity H5771 , and let not H408 their sin H2403 be blotted out H4229 from before H4480 H6440 thee: for H3588 they have provoked thee to anger H3707 before H5048 the builders H1129 .
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6. When the Jews who lived near them had come to us from one place after another, and had told us ten times over that they were about to attack us,
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6. So built H1129 we H853 the wall H2346 ; and all H3605 the wall H2346 was joined together H7194 unto H5704 the half H2677 thereof : for the people H5971 had H1961 a mind H3820 to work H6213 .
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7. I stationed guards down below, behind the wall, near the exposed points, assigning them by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
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7. But it came to pass H1961 , that when H834 Sanballat H5571 , and Tobiah H2900 , and the Arabians H6163 , and the Ammonites H5984 , and the Ashdodites H796 , heard H8085 that H3588 the walls H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 were made up H5927 H724 , and that H3588 the breaches H6555 began H2490 to be stopped H5640 , then they were very H3966 wroth H2734 ,
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8. I made an inspection, then addressed these words to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Have no fear of them! Keep in mind the LORD, who is great and to be feared, and fight for your brethren, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes."
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8. And conspired H7194 all H3605 of them together H3162 to come H935 and to fight H3898 against Jerusalem H3389 , and to hinder H6213 H8442 it.
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9. When our enemies became aware that we had been warned and that God had upset their plan, we all went back, each to his own task at the wall.
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9. Nevertheless we made our prayer H6419 unto H413 our God H430 , and set H5975 a watch H4929 against H5921 them day H3119 and night H3915 , because of H4480 H6440 them.
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10. From that time on, however, only half my able men took a hand in the work, while the other half, armed with spears, bucklers, bows, and breastplates, stood guard behind the whole house of Judah
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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 H587 are not H3808 able H3201 to build H1129 the wall H2346 .
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11. as they rebuilt the wall. The load carriers, too, were armed; each did his work with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
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11. And our adversaries H6862 said H559 , They shall not H3808 know H3045 , neither H3808 see H7200 , till H5704 H834 we come H935 in H413 the midst among H8432 them , and slay H2026 them , and cause H853 the work H4399 to cease H7673 .
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12. Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me,
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12. And it came to pass H1961 , that when H834 the Jews H3064 which dwelt H3427 by H681 them came H935 , they said H559 unto us ten H6235 times H6471 , From all H4480 H3605 places H4725 whence H834 ye shall return H7725 unto H5921 us they will be upon you .
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13. for I had said to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Our work is scattered and extensive, and we are widely separated from one another along the wall;
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13. Therefore set H5975 I in the lower H4480 H8482 places H4725 behind H4480 H310 the wall H2346 , and on the higher places H6706 , I even set H5975 H853 the people H5971 after their families H4940 with H5973 their swords H2719 , their spears H7420 , and their bows H7198 .
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14. wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us."
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14. And I looked H7200 , and rose up H6965 , and said H559 unto H413 the nobles H2715 , and to H413 the rulers H5461 , and to H413 the rest H3499 of the people H5971 , Be not H408 ye afraid H3372 of H4480 H6440 them: remember H2142 H853 the Lord H136 , which is great H1419 and terrible H3372 , and fight H3898 for H5921 your brethren H251 , your sons H1121 , and your daughters H1323 , your wives H802 , and your houses H1004 .
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15. Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out.
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15. And it came to pass H1961 , when H834 our enemies H341 heard H8085 that H3588 it was known H3045 unto us , and God H430 had brought their counsel to naught H6565 H853 H6098 , that we returned H7725 all H3605 of us to H413 the wall H2346 , every one H376 unto H413 his work H4399 .
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16. At the same time I told the people to spend the nights inside Jerusalem, each man with his own attendant, so that they might serve as a guard by night and a working force by day.
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16. And it came to pass H1961 from H4480 that H1931 time H3117 forth, that the half H2677 of my servants H5288 wrought H6213 in the work H4399 , and the other half H2677 of them held H2388 both the spears H7420 , the shields H4043 , and the bows H7198 , and the habergeons H8302 ; and the rulers H8269 were behind H310 all H3605 the house H1004 of Judah H3063 .
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17. Neither I, nor my kinsmen, nor any of my attendants, nor any of the bodyguard that accompanied me took off his clothes; everyone kept his weapon at his right hand.
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17. They which built H1129 on the wall H2346 , and they that bore H5375 burdens H5447 , with those that laded H6006 , every one with one H259 of his hands H3027 wrought H6213 in the work H4399 , and with the other H259 hand held H2388 a weapon H7973 .
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