Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Christian Standard Bible ®

Nehemiah 4:15

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.

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

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.
Bible in Basic English
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
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

7When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night. 10In Judah, it was said: 11And our enemies said, “They won’t realize it until we’re among them and can kill them and stop the work.” 12When the Jews who lived nearby arrived, they said to us time and again, “Everywhere you turn, they attack us.” 13So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” 15When 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.

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 Cain is to be avenged seven times over,then for Lamech it will be seventy-seven times!
Leviticus 26:18
“But if after these things you will not obey me, I will proceed to discipline you seven times for your sins.
Leviticus 26:21
“If you act with hostility toward me and are unwilling to obey me, I will multiply your plagues seven times for your sins.
Leviticus 26:24
then I will act with hostility toward you; I also will strike you seven times for your sins.
Leviticus 26:28
I will act with furious hostility toward you; I will also discipline you seven times for your sins.
1 Kings 16:7
But through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani the word of the Lord also had come against Baasha and against his house because of all the evil he had done in the Lord’s sight. His actions angered the Lord, and Baasha’s house became like the house of Jeroboam, because he had struck it down.
Psalms 59:11
Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.By your power, make them homeless wanderersand bring them down,Lord, our shield.
Psalms 79:12
Pay back sevenfold to our neighborsthe reproach they have hurled at you, Lord.
Proverbs 6:31
Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much;he must give up all the wealth in his house.
Ezekiel 9:4
“Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem,” the Lord said to him, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the detestable practices committed 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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile