Nehemiah 4:15
13 So 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.
14 After 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.”
When 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.
16 And 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
17 who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When 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.
- KJV
- And 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.
- WEB
- When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
- ASV
- And 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.
- DARBY
- And it came to pass that when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had defeated their counsel, we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work.
- BLB
- And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us and [that] God had frustrated their plot, that all of us returned to the wall, each man to his work.
- ÅB
- Da våre fiender hørte at vi hadde fått vite det, og at Gud hadde gjort deres råd til intet, vendte vi alle sammen tilbake til muren, hver til sitt arbeid.
- OTB
- Da våre fiender hørte at vi var klar over deres plan og at Gud hadde forpurret den, vendte vi alle tilbake til muren, hver til sitt eget arbeid.
- B1930
- Da våre fiender hørte at vi hadde fått vite det, og at Gud hadde gjort deres råd til intet, vendte vi alle sammen tilbake til muren, hver til sitt arbeid.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Samuel 17:14
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Read in contextRomans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Read in contextPsalms 33:10–11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
Read in contextIsaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
Read in contextJob 5:12–13
He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
Read in contextProverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Read in context2 Samuel 15:31
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Read in contextIsaiah 8:10
Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”
Read in context