Nehemiah 2:18
16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews or priests or nobles or officials or any other workers.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”
I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.
- KJV
- Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
- WEB
- I told them about the hand of my God which was good on me, and also about the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
- ASV
- And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king`s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good [work].
- DARBY
- And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me; as also of the king's words which he had said unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. And they strengthened their hands for the good [work].
- BLB
- And I told them of the hand of my God that was good upon me, and also of the words of the king that he had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” And they strengthened their hands for good.
- ÅB
- Og jeg fortalte dem hvordan min Gud hadde holdt sin gode hånd over meg, og likeså hva kongen hadde sagt til meg. Da sa de: Vi vil gjøre oss rede og bygge. Og de tok kraftig fatt på det gode verk.
- OTB
- Jeg fortalte dem også om min Guds nådige hånd over meg og hva kongen hadde sagt til meg. De svarte: “La oss reise oss og bygge.” Så satte de sine hender til dette gode arbeidet.
- B1930
- Og jeg fortalte dem hvorledes min Gud hadde holdt sin gode hånd over mig, og likeså hvad kongen hadde sagt til mig. Da sa de: Vi vil gjøre oss rede og bygge. Og de tok kraftig fatt på det gode verk.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Read in context1 Chronicles 19:13
Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
Read in context2 Chronicles 32:5
Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.
Read in contextEphesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Read in contextHaggai 1:13–14
Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, delivered the message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD.
Read in context2 Samuel 2:7
Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
Read in contextEzra 6:22
For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.
Read in context1 Chronicles 11:10
Now these were the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who, together with all Israel, bolstered and strengthened his kingdom, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
Read in context