Building While Under Siege and Attack

1. But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and was very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2. 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 finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned?” 3. Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, “What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall.” 4. “Hear, our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a plunder in a land of captivity; 5. don’t cover their iniquity, and don’t let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders.” 6. So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height: for the people had a mind to work. 7. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, they were very angry; 8. and they all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion among us. 9. But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10. Judah said, “The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubble; so that we are not able to build the wall.” 11. Our adversaries said, “They will not know or see, until we come in among them and kill them, and cause the work to cease.” 12. When the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 13. Therefore I set guards in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places. I set the people by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14. I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them! Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” 15. When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 16. From that time forth, half of my servants did the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17. Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon. 18. Among the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. 19. I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. Our God will fight for us.” 21. So we did the work. Half of the people held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. 22. Likewise at the same time said I to the people, “Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.” 23. So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water. 1. Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. 2. For there were that said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.” 3. There were also some that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.” 4. There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral. 5. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.” 6. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them. 8. I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say. 9. Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? 10. I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury. 11. Please restore to them, even today, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.” 12. Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. 13. Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even be he shaken out, and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise. 14. Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15. But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God. 16. Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work. 17. Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us. 18. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days a store of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this, I didn’t demand the governor’s pay, because the bondage was heavy on this people. 19. Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people. 1. Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates) 2. Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me. 3. I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?” 4. They sent to me four times like this; and I answered them the same way. 5. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6. in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words. 7. You have also appointed prophets to proclaim of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.” 8. Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.” 9. For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands. 10. I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you. Yes, in the night will they come to kill you.” 11. I said, “Should a man like me flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” 12. I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13. He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14. “Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.” 15. So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16. When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. 17. Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. 18. For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife. 19. Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2. to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4. having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints, 5. because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News, 6. which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7. even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8. who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. 9. For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10. that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11. strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; 12. giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13. who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; 14. in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; 15. who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16. For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. 17. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. 18. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19. For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him; 20. and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross. 21. You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds, 22. yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him, 23. if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. 24. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly; 25. of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God, 26. the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, 27. to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; 28. whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; 29. for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily. 1. For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2. that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3. in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. 4. Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. 5. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6. As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, 7. rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. 8. Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 9. For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10. and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; 11. in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 12. having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13. You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14. wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15. having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16. Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, 17. which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s. 18. Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth. 20. If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances, 21. “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch” 22. (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23. Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh. 1. If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. 5. Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6. for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7. You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; 8. but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. 9. Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10. and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11. where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. 12. Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13. bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. 14. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. 17. Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him. 18. Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19. Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them. 20. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord. 21. Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged. 22. Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23. And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, 24. knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25. But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality. 1. Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 2. Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; 3. praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; 4. that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. 5. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. 7. All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 8. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9. together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here. 10. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”), 11. and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me. 12. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13. For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15. Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. 16. When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17. Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” 18. The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

1. Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house! 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh! 3. May Yahweh bless you from Zion; even he who made heaven and earth.