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15 Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, the ·ruler [official; head] of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, ·put a roof over [covered] it, and set its doors, bolts, and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of ·Siloam [or Shelah] next to the King’s Garden all the way to the steps that went down from the ·older part of the city [L City of David]. 16 Next to Shallun was Nehemiah [C not the governor] son of Azbuk, ·the ruler [official; head] of half of the district of Beth Zur. He made repairs ·opposite [across from] the tombs of David and as far as the ·man-made [artificial] pool and the House of the ·Heroes [Champions; Warriors; T Mighty Men].
17 Next to him, the Levites made repairs, working under Rehum son of Bani. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ·ruler [official; head] of half of the district of Keilah, for his district. 18 Next to him, ·Binnui [or Bavvai] son of Henadad and his ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers] made repairs. ·Binnui [or Bavvai] was the ·ruler [official; head] of the other half of the district of Keilah. 19 Next to them, Ezer son of Jeshua, the ·ruler [official; head] of Mizpah, repaired another part of the wall. He worked across from the way up to the armory, as far as the ·bend [angle; buttress]. 20 Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai worked ·hard [zealously] on the wall that went from the ·bend [angle; buttress] to the ·entrance to [door of] the house of Eliashib, the high priest. 21 Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the wall that went from the ·entrance to [door of] Eliashib’s house to the far end of it.
22 Next to him worked the priests from the ·surrounding area [nearby district]. 23 Next to them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs ·in front of [across from] their own house. Next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs ·beside [near] his own house. 24 Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired ·the wall [another section] that went from Azariah’s house to the ·bend [angle; buttress] and on to the corner. 25 Palal son of Uzai worked across from the ·bend [angle; buttress] and by the tower on the upper ·palace [L house of the king], which is near the courtyard of the guard. Next to Palal, Pedaiah son of Parosh made repairs. 26 The Temple servants who lived on the hill of Ophel made repairs as far as a point ·opposite [across from] the Water Gate. They worked toward the east and the ·tower that extends from the palace [projecting/protruding tower]. 27 Next to them, the people of Tekoa [v. 5] repaired ·the wall [another section] from the great ·tower that extends from the palace [projecting/protruding tower] to the wall of Ophel.
28 The priests made repairs above the Horse Gate, each working ·in front of [across from] his own house. 29 Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs. 30 Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, made repairs on another ·part of the wall [section]. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs across from ·where he lived [his quarters]. 31 Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. He worked as far as the house of the Temple servants and the ·traders [merchants], which is across from the Inspection Gate, and as far as the ·room above the corner of the wall [upper room at the corner]. 32 The goldsmiths and the traders made repairs between the ·room above the corner of the wall [upper room at the corner] and the Sheep Gate.
Those Against the Rebuilding
4 When Sanballat heard we were rebuilding the wall, he was very angry, even furious. He ·made fun of [mocked; ridiculed] the Jewish people. 2 He said to his ·friends [colleagues; L brothers] and ·those with power in [or the army/aristocracy of] Samaria, “What are these ·weak [feeble; pathetic] Jews doing? Will they ·rebuild the wall [or leave it all to God]? Will they offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in one day? Can they ·bring stones back to life from piles of trash and ashes [revive stones from piles of rubble—burnt stones at that]?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was ·next to Sanballat [L beside him], said, “If a fox climbed up on the stone wall they are building, it would break it down.”
4 I prayed, “Hear us, our God. We are ·hated [despised]. Turn the ·insults [taunts; sneers] of Sanballat and Tobiah back on their own heads. ·Let them be captured and stolen like valuables [Send them as plunder to a land of exile]. 5 Do not ·hide [cover; ignore] their guilt or ·take away [blot out] their sins so that you can’t see them, because they have ·insulted [deeply offended; or demoralized] the builders.”
6 So we rebuilt [L and connected/joined together] the wall to half its height, because the people were ·willing to [enthusiastic in their; L had a heart to] work.
7 But Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod were very angry when they heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls were continuing and that the ·holes [gaps; breaches] in the wall were being closed. 8 So they all made plans to come to Jerusalem and fight and ·stir up trouble [cause confusion/a disturbance]. 9 But we prayed to our God and appointed guards ·to watch for [L against] them day and night.
10 The people of Judah said, “The ·workers are getting tired [strength of the laborers is failing]. There is so much ·trash [debris; rubble] we cannot rebuild the wall.”
11 And our enemies said, “·The Jews [L They] won’t know or see anything until we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
12 Then the Jewish people who lived near our enemies came and ·told [warned] us repeatedly [L ten times], “·Everywhere you turn [From every direction], the enemy will attack us.” 13 So I ·put [stationed] people behind the lowest places along the wall—the ·open [exposed] places—and I ·put families together [stationed people by families] with their swords, spears, and bows. 14 ·Then I looked around and [After an inspection, I] stood up and said to the ·important men [nobles], the ·leaders [officials], and the rest of the people: “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and ·powerful [awesome; glorious]. Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
15 Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans and that God had ·ruined [frustrated; thwarted] their plans. So we all went back to the wall, each to his own work.
16 From that day on, half my people worked on the wall. The other half was ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The ·officers [leaders] stood in back of the ·people [L house] of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried ·materials [loads] did their work with one hand and carried a weapon with the other. 18 Each builder wore his sword at his side as he ·worked [built]. The trumpeter [C to signal an attack] stayed next to me.
19 Then I said to the ·important people [nobles], the ·leaders [officials], and everyone else, “This is ·a very big job [demanding work]. We are spread out along the wall so that we are far apart. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, ·assemble there [rally to us here]. Our God will fight for us.”
21 So we continued to work with half the men holding spears from ·sunrise [dawn] till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his ·helper [servant] stay inside Jerusalem at night. They can be our guards at night and workmen during the day.” 23 Neither I, my ·brothers [colleagues], my ·workers [servants], nor the guards with me ever ·took off [changed] our clothes. Each person carried his weapon even when he went for water.
Nehemiah Helps Poor People
5 The men and their wives ·complained [cried out] loudly against their ·fellow Jews [L Jewish brothers]. 2 Some of them were saying, “We have many sons and daughters in our families. To eat and stay alive, we need grain [C This group may have owned no land that could provide them food.].”
3 Others were saying, “We are ·borrowing money [mortgaging; C from their fellow Jews, which increased their frustration] against our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain ·because there is not much food [during the famine].”
4 And still others were saying, “We are borrowing money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 ·We are just like our fellow Jews [L Our flesh is like our brothers’ flesh], and our ·sons [children] are like their ·sons [children]. But we have to sell our sons and daughters ·as slaves [into bondage/slavery; C an often temporary servitude to satisfy debts; Ex. 21:2–11]. Some of our daughters have already been ·sold [enslaved]. But ·there is nothing we can do [we are powerless/helpless], because our fields and vineyards already belong to other people.”
6 When I heard their ·complaints about these things [L outcry and these words], I was very angry. 7 After ·I thought about [reflecting on] it, I ·accused [reprimanded] the ·important people [nobles] and ·leaders [officials], “You are ·charging your own ·brothers [kinsmen] interest [committing usury; C in these situations, lenders were not to make a profit; Deut. 24:10; Prov. 22:26].” So I called a ·large meeting to deal with [great assembly against] them. 8 I said to them, “·As much as possible [To the best of our ability], we have ·bought freedom for [redeemed] our fellow Jews who had been sold to ·foreigners [L the Gentiles]. Now you are selling your fellow Jews to us [C the creditors were selling their fellow Jews into slavery, requiring Nehemiah and others to buy them back]!” ·The leaders [L They] were ·quiet [silent] and ·had nothing [L couldn’t find a word] to say.
9 Then I said, “What you are doing is not ·right [good]. ·Don’t you fear [L Should you not walk in fear of] God [Prov. 1:7]? Don’t let our ·foreign [Gentile] enemies shame us. 10 I, my ·brothers [colleagues], and my ·men [servants] are lending money and grain to the people. But stop charging them ·for this [interest]. 11 Give back their fields, vineyards, olive trees, and houses ·right now [L this very day]. Also give back the ·extra amount [interest] you charged—·the hundredth part [one percent] of the money, grain, new wine, and oil.”
12 They said, “We will give it back and not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
Then I called for the priests, and I made the ·important people [nobles] and ·leaders [officials] ·take an oath [swear; vow] to do what they had ·said [promised]. 13 Also I shook out the folds of my ·robe [L bosom] and said, “In this way may God shake out everyone who does not ·keep his [fulfill/L cause to stand this] promise. May God shake him out of his house and ·out of the things that are his [his possessions/property]. Let that person be shaken out and emptied!”
Then the whole ·group [assembly] said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. So the people did what they had ·promised [sworn; vowed].
Questions About Getting Married
25 Now I write about ·people who are not married [or those never married; or betrothed women; L virgins]. I have no command from the Lord about this; I give my ·opinion [perspective; judgment]. But I can be trusted, because the Lord has shown me mercy. 26 Because ·the present time is a time of trouble [of the present crisis/distress/trouble], I think it is ·good [best] for you to stay the way you are. 27 If you ·have a wife [L are bound to a wife; or are pledged to a woman], do not try to ·become free from [or divorce] her. If you are not married, do not try to find a wife. 28 But if you decide to marry, you have not sinned. And if a ·girl who has never married [or betrothed woman; L virgin] decides to marry, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have ·trouble [trials; tribulation] in ·this life [this world; L the flesh], and I want ·you to be free [to spare you] from trouble [C during times of persecution, those with family obligations suffer the most].
29 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: ·We do not have much time left [The time is short/limited/coming to an end]. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives. 30 Those who are ·crying [weeping; mourning] should live as if they were not ·crying [weeping; mourning]. Those who ·are happy [rejoice] should live as if they were not ·happy [rejoicing]. Those who buy things should live as if they ·own [or could keep/hold on to] nothing. 31 Those who use ·the things of the world [L the world] should live as if they were not ·using [engrossed in; dependent upon] them, because this world in its present form ·will soon be gone [is passing away].
32 I want you to be free from ·worry [concern]. A man who is not married is ·busy [concerned] with the Lord’s work, trying to please the Lord. 33 But a man who is married is ·busy [concerned] with things of the world, trying to please his wife. 34 He ·must think about two things—pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord [L is divided]. A woman who is not married or a ·girl who has never married [or betrothed woman; L virgin] is ·busy [concerned] with the ·Lord’s work [L things of the Lord]. She wants to be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is ·busy [concerned] with things of the world, as to how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this to help you, not to ·limit [restrain] you. But I want you to live ·in the right way [or in a proper/orderly manner; or above criticism], to ·give yourselves fully [be devoted] to the Lord without ·concern for other things [distraction].
36 If a man thinks he is ·not doing the right thing with [or acting improperly toward] ·the girl he is engaged to [L his virgin; C it is possible, but less likely, that the passage concerns a father’s decision to allow his virgin daughter to marry; a third option is that it is about a couple in a “spiritual” (celibate) marriage deciding whether to consummate it], if ·she is almost past the best age to marry [or his passions are too strong; L he/she is at the highest point] and ·he feels he should marry her [L it ought to be so], he should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin. 37 But if a man is ·sure [resolved; firm] in his ·mind [conviction; heart] that there is no ·need for marriage [obligation; necessity], and has his own ·desires [or will] under control, and has decided ·not to marry the one to whom he is engaged [to keep her a virgin], he is doing the right thing. 38 So the man who marries his ·fiancée [L virgin] does right, but the man who does not marry will do better.
39 A woman ·must stay with [is bound to] her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry any man she wants, but she must marry ·another believer [L in the Lord]. 40 The woman is ·happier [better off; more blessed] if she ·does not marry again [L remains as she is]. This is my ·opinion [perspective; judgment], but I believe I also have God’s Spirit [C Paul affirms he is speaking for God].
It Is Better to Confess Sin
A ·maskil [skillful psalm; meditation] of David.
32 ·Happy [Blessed] is the person
whose ·sins [transgressions] are forgiven,
whose ·wrongs [sins] are ·pardoned [L covered].
2 ·Happy [Blessed] is the person
whom the Lord ·does not consider guilty [imputes no guilt to]
and in ·whom [L whose spirit] there is nothing ·false [deceptive].
3 When I kept ·things to myself [silent],
·I felt weak deep inside me [L my bones wasted away].
I ·moaned [sighed] all day long.
4 Day and night ·you punished me [L your hand was heavy on me].
My strength was ·gone [dried up; sapped] as in the summer heat. ·
5 Then I ·confessed [made known; disclosed] my sins to you
and didn’t ·hide [cover up] my guilt.
I said, “I will confess my ·sins [transgressions] to the Lord,”
and you forgave ·my guilt [L the guilt of my sin]. ·
6 For this reason, all ·who obey you [your saints/holy ones]
should pray to you while ·they still can [or you may be found; L at a time of finding only; Prov. 1:24–27].
When troubles rise like a flood,
they will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place.
You protect me from ·my troubles [distress]
and ·fill [L surround] me with ·songs [loud cries] of ·salvation [rescue; T deliverance]. ·
8 The Lord says, “I will ·make you wise [instruct you] and ·show [teach] you ·where to [L the way you should] go.
I will ·guide [counsel] you and ·watch over [L my eye will be on] you.
9 So don’t be like a horse or donkey,
that doesn’t understand.
·They must be led [L …whose temper/or gallop must be restrained] with bits and reins,
or they will not come near you.”
10 Wicked people have many ·troubles [pains; torments; woes],
but the Lord’s ·love [loyalty; covenant love] surrounds those who ·trust [have confidence in] him.
11 ·Good [Righteous] people, rejoice and be happy in the Lord.
·Sing [Shout joyfully] all you whose hearts are ·right [upright; virtuous].
5 The plans of hard-working people earn a profit,
but those who ·act too quickly [hurry] become poor.
6 ·Wealth [L Those who work for treasures] that comes from ·telling lies [L a lying tongue]
·vanishes like a mist [pursues vapor/meaninglessness/emptiness] and ·leads to [seeks] death.
7 The violence of the wicked will ·destroy them [sweep them away],
because they refuse to ·do what is right [act with justice].
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