Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Green's Literal Translation
Nehemiah 4:4
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.
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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!
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:
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;
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!
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:
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;
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.
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.
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;
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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,
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:
Good News Translation
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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:
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.
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;
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
Contextual Overview
1 And it happened, when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was angry, and it was greatly enraging to him, and he mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they bring to life the stones out of the heaps of therubbish which are burned? 3 And Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox goes up, he will even break down their stone wall. 4 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. 5 And do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You. For they have provoked You to anger before the builders. 6 So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together to the half of it. For the people had a heart 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 out from the presence of Jehovah. And he lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah. And he lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and he called the name of the city according to the name of his son, Enoch.
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and he called the name of the city according to the name of his son, Enoch.
Genesis 4:19
And Lamech took two wives to himself: the name of the first was Adah; and the name of the second was Zillah.
And Lamech took two wives to himself: the name of the first was Adah; and the name of the second was Zillah.
Genesis 4:20
And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those living in tents, and with cattle.
And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those living in tents, and with cattle.
Genesis 15:17
And it happened, the sun had gone down, and it was dark. Behold! A smoking furnace and a torch of fire that passed between those pieces!
And it happened, the sun had gone down, and it was dark. Behold! A smoking furnace and a torch of fire that passed between those pieces!
Exodus 13:12
you shall set apart to Jehovah every one opening the womb, and every firstling, the offspring of animals which are yours; the males are Jehovah's.
you shall set apart to Jehovah every one opening the womb, and every firstling, the offspring of animals which are yours; the males are Jehovah's.
Leviticus 9:24
And fire came out from before Jehovah and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw, and cried aloud, and fell on their faces.
And fire came out from before Jehovah and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw, and cried aloud, and fell on their faces.
Numbers 16:35
And fire came forth from Jehovah and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
And fire came forth from Jehovah and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
Numbers 18:12
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the new wine, and wheat, the first fruits of them which they give to Jehovah, I have given to you.
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the new wine, and wheat, the first fruits of them which they give to Jehovah, I have given to you.
Numbers 18:17
But the firstling of an ox, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and you shall burn their fat as incense, a fire offering of soothing fragrance to Jehovah.
But the firstling of an ox, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and you shall burn their fat as incense, a fire offering of soothing fragrance to Jehovah.
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.
