5 and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked `thee' to anger before the builders.
Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to visit all the nations: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth; Swords are in their lips: For who, `say they', doth hear? But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt have all the nations in derision. `Because of' his strength I will give heed unto thee; For God is my high tower. My God with his lovingkindness will meet me: God will let me see `my desire' upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield. `For' the sin of their mouth, `and' the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more: And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, Unto the ends of the earth. Selah
Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall. But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? `hath he' not `sent me' to the men that sit upon the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Nehemiah 4
Commentary on Nehemiah 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
We left all hands at work for the building of the wall about Jerusalem. But such good work is not wont to be carried on without opposition; now here we are told what opposition was given to it, and what methods Nehemiah took to forward the work, notwithstanding that opposition.
In all this Nehemiah approved himself a man of great wisdom and courage, as well as great piety.
Neh 4:1-6
Here is,
Neh 4:7-15
We have here,
Neh 4:16-23
When the builders had so far reason to think the design of the enemies broken as to return to their work, yet they were not so secure as to lay down their arms, knowing how restless and unwearied they were in their attempts, and that, if one design failed, they would be hatching another. Thus must we watch always against our spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be accomplished till our work is. See what course Nehemiah took, that the people might hold themselves in a readiness, in case there should be an attack.