Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
Good News Translation
Nehemiah 4:4
I prayed, "Hear how they make fun of us, O God! Let their ridicule fall on their own heads. Let them be robbed of everything they have, and let them be taken as prisoners to a foreign land.
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
Hebrew Names Version
Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
King James Version
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
English Standard Version
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
New Century Version
I prayed, "Hear us, our God. We are hated. Turn the insults of Sanballat and Tobiah back on their own heads. Let them be captured and stolen like valuables.
I prayed, "Hear us, our God. We are hated. Turn the insults of Sanballat and Tobiah back on their own heads. Let them be captured and stolen like valuables.
New English Translation
Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile!
Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile!
Amplified Bible
[And Nehemiah prayed] Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their taunts on their own heads. Give them up as prey in a land of captivity.
[And Nehemiah prayed] Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their taunts on their own heads. Give them up as prey in a land of captivity.
New American Standard Bible
Hear, O our God, how we are an object of contempt! Return their taunting on their own heads, and turn them into plunder in a land of captivity.
Hear, O our God, how we are an object of contempt! Return their taunting on their own heads, and turn them into plunder in a land of captivity.
World English Bible
Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Geneva Bible (1587)
Heare, O our God (for we are despised) and turne their shame vpon their owne head, and giue them vnto a pray in the lande of their captiuitie,
Heare, O our God (for we are despised) and turne their shame vpon their owne head, and giue them vnto a pray in the lande of their captiuitie,
Legacy Standard Bible
Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
Berean Standard Bible
Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
Contemporary English Version
But I prayed, "Our God, these people hate us and have wished horrible things for us. Please answer our prayers and make their insults fall on them! Let them be the ones to be dragged away as prisoners of war.
But I prayed, "Our God, these people hate us and have wished horrible things for us. Please answer our prayers and make their insults fall on them! Let them be the ones to be dragged away as prisoners of war.
Complete Jewish Bible
Y'hudah was saying, "The strength of the people who carry loads away is starting to fail, and there is so much rubble that we can't build the wall."
Y'hudah was saying, "The strength of the people who carry loads away is starting to fail, and there is so much rubble that we can't build the wall."
Darby Translation
Hear, our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in a land of captivity!
Hear, our God, for we are despised, and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in a land of captivity!
Easy-to-Read Version
Nehemiah prayed and said, "Our God, listen to our prayer. These men hate us. Sanballat and Tobiah are insulting us. Make bad things happen to them. Make them ashamed, like people taken away as prisoners.
Nehemiah prayed and said, "Our God, listen to our prayer. These men hate us. Sanballat and Tobiah are insulting us. Make bad things happen to them. Make them ashamed, like people taken away as prisoners.
George Lamsa Translation
Hear, O our God, for we have become ridiculed; and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of their captivity:
Hear, O our God, for we have become ridiculed; and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of their captivity:
Lexham English Bible
Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn on their head and give them over to plunder in the land of captivity.
Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn on their head and give them over to plunder in the land of captivity.
Literal Translation
O our God, hear. For we are despised. And turn their curse on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity.
O our God, hear. For we are despised. And turn their curse on their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Heare O thou oure God, how we are despysed, turne their shame vpon their awne heade, yt thou mayest geue them ouer in to despisinge in the londe of their captiuite.
Heare O thou oure God, how we are despysed, turne their shame vpon their awne heade, yt thou mayest geue them ouer in to despisinge in the londe of their captiuite.
American Standard Version
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Bible in Basic English
Give ear, O our God, for we are looked down on: let their words of shame be turned back on themselves, and let them be given up to wasting in a land where they are prisoners:
Give ear, O our God, for we are looked down on: let their words of shame be turned back on themselves, and let them be given up to wasting in a land where they are prisoners:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Heare O thou our God, for we are despised, turne their shame vpon their owne head, & geue them ouer into despising in the lande of their captiuitie.
Heare O thou our God, for we are despised, turne their shame vpon their owne head, & geue them ouer into despising in the lande of their captiuitie.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Judah said: 'The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.'
And Judah said: 'The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.'
King James Version (1611)
Heare, O our God, for we are despised: and turne their reproch vpon their owne head, and giue them for a pray, in the land of captiuitie.
Heare, O our God, for we are despised: and turne their reproch vpon their owne head, and giue them for a pray, in the land of captiuitie.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn; and return thou their reproach upon their head, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity,
Hear, O our God, for we have become a scorn; and return thou their reproach upon their head, and make them a scorn in a land of captivity,
English Revised Version
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up to spoiling in a land of captivity:
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up to spoiling in a land of captivity:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Neemye seide, Oure God, here thou, for we ben maad dispising; turne thou the schenschip on her heed, and yyue thou hem in to dispisyng in the lond of caytifte;
And Neemye seide, Oure God, here thou, for we ben maad dispising; turne thou the schenschip on her heed, and yyue thou hem in to dispisyng in the lond of caytifte;
Update Bible Version
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Webster's Bible Translation
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
New King James Version
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
New Living Translation
Then I prayed, "Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!
Then I prayed, "Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!
New Life Bible
Hear, O our God, how we are hated! Return their shame on their own heads. Let them be taken as servants to a strange land.
Hear, O our God, how we are hated! Return their shame on their own heads. Let them be taken as servants to a strange land.
New Revised Standard
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hear, O our God, for we have become a contempt, and turn thou back their reproach upon their own head, - and give them up as a prey, in the land of captivity;
Hear, O our God, for we have become a contempt, and turn thou back their reproach upon their own head, - and give them up as a prey, in the land of captivity;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity.
Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity.
Revised Standard Version
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn back their taunt upon their own heads, and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn back their taunt upon their own heads, and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.
Young's Literal Translation
Hear, O our God, for we have been despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them for a spoil in a land of captivity;
Hear, O our God, for we have been despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them for a spoil in a land of captivity;
THE MESSAGE
Nehemiah prayed, "Oh listen to us, dear God. We're so despised: Boomerang their ridicule on their heads; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no return; don't forgive their iniquity, don't wipe away their sin—they've insulted the builders!"
Nehemiah prayed, "Oh listen to us, dear God. We're so despised: Boomerang their ridicule on their heads; have their enemies cart them off as war trophies to a land of no return; don't forgive their iniquity, don't wipe away their sin—they've insulted the builders!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
Contextual Overview
1 When Sanballat heard that we Jews had begun rebuilding the wall, he became furious and began to ridicule us. 2 In front of his companions and the Samaritan troops he said, "What do these miserable Jews think they're doing? Do they intend to rebuild the city? Do they think that by offering sacrifices they can finish the work in one day? Can they make building stones out of heaps of burnt rubble?" 3 Tobiah was standing there beside him, and he added, "What kind of wall could they ever build? Even a fox could knock it down!" 4 I prayed, "Hear how they make fun of us, O God! Let their ridicule fall on their own heads. Let them be robbed of everything they have, and let them be taken as prisoners to a foreign land. 5 Don't forgive the evil they do and don't forget their sins, for they have insulted us who are building." 6 So we went on rebuilding the wall, and soon it was half its full height, because the people were eager to work.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Hear: Psalms 123:3, Psalms 123:4
despised: Heb. despite
turn: 1 Samuel 17:26, Psalms 79:12, Proverbs 3:34, Hosea 12:14
Reciprocal: Judges 12:4 - fugitives 2 Samuel 6:20 - glorious Nehemiah 6:14 - think thou Proverbs 18:3 - General Jeremiah 18:19 - hearken Jeremiah 18:23 - forgive Lamentations 1:22 - all their Lamentations 5:1 - behold Ezekiel 25:6 - rejoiced
Cross-References
Genesis 4:16
And Cain went away from the Lord 's presence and lived in a land called "Wandering," which is east of Eden.
And Cain went away from the Lord 's presence and lived in a land called "Wandering," which is east of Eden.
Genesis 4:17
Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son.
Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son.
Genesis 4:19
Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah.
Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah.
Genesis 4:20
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the ancestor of those who raise livestock and live in tents.
Genesis 15:17
When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appeared and passed between the pieces of the animals.
When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appeared and passed between the pieces of the animals.
Exodus 13:12
you must offer every first-born male to the Lord . Every first-born male of your animals belongs to the Lord ,
you must offer every first-born male to the Lord . Every first-born male of your animals belongs to the Lord ,
Leviticus 9:24
Suddenly the Lord sent a fire, and it consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. When the people saw it, they all shouted and bowed down with their faces to the ground.
Suddenly the Lord sent a fire, and it consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. When the people saw it, they all shouted and bowed down with their faces to the ground.
Numbers 16:35
Then the Lord sent a fire that blazed out and burned up the 250 men who had presented the incense.
Then the Lord sent a fire that blazed out and burned up the 250 men who had presented the incense.
Numbers 18:12
"I am giving you all the best of the first produce which the Israelites give me each year: olive oil, wine, and grain.
"I am giving you all the best of the first produce which the Israelites give me each year: olive oil, wine, and grain.
Numbers 18:17
But the first-born of cows, sheep, and goats are not to be bought back; they belong completely to me and are to be sacrificed. Throw their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an odor pleasing to me.
But the first-born of cows, sheep, and goats are not to be bought back; they belong completely to me and are to be sacrificed. Throw their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an odor pleasing to me.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Hear, O our God, for we are despised,.... Here begins the prayer of Nehemiah, who had been informed of what these men said in contempt of him, and his builders, and to whom he sent no answer, but applied to God:
and turn their reproach upon their own head; as they have despised and reproached us, let them be despised and reproached by their neighbours:
give them for a prey in the land of captivity; let them be carried captive, as we have been, and become a prey and booty to their enemies.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The parenthetical prayers of Nehemiah form one of the most striking characteristics of his history. Here we have the first. Other examples are Nehemiah 5:19; Nehemiah 6:9, Nehemiah 6:14; Nehemiah 13:14, Nehemiah 13:22, Nehemiah 13:29, Nehemiah 13:31.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Nehemiah 4:4. Turn their reproach upon their own head — A prayer of this kind, understood literally, is not lawful for any Christian. Jesus, our great master, has said, "Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that despitefully use you." Such sayings as the above are excusable in the mouth of a Jew, under severe irritation. See the next verse.
