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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Bible in Basic English

Nehemiah 4:15

And when it came to the ears of those who were against us, that we had knowledge of their designs and that God had made their purpose come to nothing, we all went back to the wall, everyone to his work

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Prudence;   Thompson Chain Reference - Co-Operation;   Nehemiah;   Unity-Strife;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prayer, Answers to;   Prudence;   Samaria, Modern;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Samaritans;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Nehemiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jerusalem;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Day;   Night;   Sun, Rising and Setting of the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall.
Hebrew Names Version
It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
New Century Version
Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans and that God had ruined their plans. So we all went back to the wall, each to his own work.
New English Translation
It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, God frustrated their intentions. Then all of us returned to the wall, each to his own work.
Amplified Bible
Now when our enemies heard that we knew about their plot against us, and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each one to his work.
New American Standard Bible
Now when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
World English Bible
It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when our enemies heard that it was knowen vnto vs, then God brought their counsell to nought, and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his worke.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had thwarted their counsel, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
Our enemies found out that we knew about their plot against us, but God kept them from doing what they had planned. So we went back to work on the wall.
Complete Jewish Bible
So we kept doing the work. Half of them held spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.
Darby Translation
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.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans. They knew that God ruined their plans. So we all went back to work on the wall. Everyone went back to their own place and did their part.
George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that the matter was known to us and that the LORD had brought their counsel to naught, we all returned and went up to the wall, every one to his work.
Good News Translation
Our enemies heard that we had found out what they were plotting, and they realized that God had defeated their plans. Then all of us went back to rebuilding the wall.
Lexham English Bible
It happened when our enemies heard that their plan was known to us, that God had frustrated it, and we all returned to the wall—each to his work.
Literal Translation
And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had broken their counsel, all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles whan or enemies herde yt we had gotten worde of it, God broughte their councell to naughte, and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his labor.
American Standard Version
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neuerthelesse, when our enemies heard that we had gotten worde of it, God brought their counsell to naught: and we turned all againe to the wall, euery one vnto his labour.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
So we wrought in the work; and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe when our enemies heard that it was knowen vnto vs, and God had brought their counsell to nought, that we returned all of vs to the wall, euery one vnto his worke.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And 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.
English Revised Version
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it was doon, whanne oure enemyes hadden herd that it was teld to vs, God distriede her counsel; and alle we turneden ayen to the wallis, ech man to his werk.
Update Bible Version
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one to his work.
New King James Version
And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
New Living Translation
When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.
New Life Bible
When those who hated us heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought trouble to their plan, then all of us returned to the wall. Each one returned to his work.
New Revised Standard
When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had overturned their counsel, then returned we, all of us, unto the wall, every man unto his work.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that the thing had been told us, that God defeated their counsel. And we returned all of us to the walls, every man to his work.
Revised Standard Version
When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, when our enemies have heard that it hath been known to us, and God doth frustrate their counsel, and we turn back, all of us, unto the wall, each unto his work;
THE MESSAGE
Our enemies learned that we knew all about their plan and that God had frustrated it. And we went back to the wall and went to work. From then on half of my young men worked while the other half stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail armor. Military officers served as backup for everyone in Judah who was at work rebuilding the wall. The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other. Each of the builders had a sword strapped to his side as he worked. I kept the trumpeter at my side to sound the alert.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.

Contextual Overview

7 But when it came to the ears of Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites, that the building of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the broken places were being made good, they were full of wrath; 8 And they made designs, all of them together, to come and make an attack on Jerusalem, causing trouble there. 9 But we made our prayer to God, and had men on watch against them day and night because of them. 10 And Judah said, The strength of the workmen is giving way, and there is much waste material; it is impossible for us to put up the wall. 11 And those who were against us said, Without their knowledge and without their seeing us, we will come among them and put them to death, causing the work to come to a stop. 12 And it came about that when the Jews who were living near them came, they said to us ten times, From all directions they are coming against us. 13 So in the lowest part of the space at the back of the walls, in the open places, I put the people by families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And after looking, I got up and said to the great ones and to the chiefs and to the rest of the people, Have no fear of them: keep in mind the Lord who is great and greatly to be feared, and take up arms for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives and your houses. 15 And when it came to the ears of those who were against us, that we had knowledge of their designs and that God had made their purpose come to nothing, we all went back to the wall, everyone to his work

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: 2 Samuel 15:31, 2 Samuel 17:14, Job 5:12, Job 5:13, Psalms 33:10, Psalms 33:11, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 8:10, Isaiah 44:25, Lamentations 3:37, Lamentations 3:38, 1 Corinthians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 3:20

every one: Mark 13:34, Romans 12:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Reciprocal: Ezra 7:6 - according to Acts 5:38 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 4:24
If seven lives are to be taken as punishment for Cain's death, seventy-seven will be taken for Lamech's.
Leviticus 26:18
And if, even after these things, you will not give ear to me, then I will send you punishment seven times more for your sins.
Leviticus 26:21
And if you still go against me and will not give ear to me, I will put seven times more punishments on you because of your sins.
Leviticus 26:24
Then I will go against you, and I will give you punishment, I myself, seven times for all your sins.
Leviticus 26:28
Then my wrath will be burning against you, and I will give you punishment, I myself, seven times for your sins.
1 Kings 16:7
And the Lord sent his word against Baasha and his family by the mouth of the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani, because of all the evil he did in the eyes of the Lord, moving him to wrath by the work of his hands, because he was like the family of Jeroboam, and because he put it to death.
Psalms 59:11
Put them not to death, for so my people will keep the memory of them: let them be sent in all directions by your power; make them low, O Lord our saviour.
Psalms 79:12
And give punishment seven times over into the breast of our neighbours for the bitter words which they have said against you, O Lord.
Proverbs 6:31
But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house.
Ezekiel 9:4
The Lord said to him, Go through the town, through the middle of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the brows of the men who are sorrowing and crying for all the disgusting things which are done in it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard it was known unto us,.... What they intended, as might be reported to them from the preparations made by the Jews to receive them, and defend themselves:

and God had brought their counsel to naught; which was to come upon them secretly and unawares; but being discovered, they dropped their design, and their scheme came to nothing:

so that we returned all of us to the wall, every man to his work; to that part of it where he wrought, in order to finish it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Their counsel to naught — The word counsel used here countenances the emendation in the Nehemiah 4:12; Nehemiah 4:12 verse.


 
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