# when the foundation of my house was laid

This can be expressed in active form. AT: "when you were building the foundation of my house" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# Strengthen your hands

This is an idiom that means to be courageous for the work. AT: "Be strong and courageous" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# For before those days

Here "those days" refers to the time the people of Judah started to rebuild the temple.

# no crops were gathered in

"there were no crops to harvest"

# there was no profit for either man or beast

It was useless for people and their animals to farm the land, because they got no food from it.

# for anyone going or coming

This merism refers to all of life's activities everywhere that anyone went. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]])

# I had set every person each against his neighbor

"I had turned everyone against each other"

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/foundation]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/house]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/temple]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/peace]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/neighbor]]