1.0 KiB
Hear, our God, ... for they have provoked the builders to anger. So
Here Nehemiah is praying to God. This can be stated clearly and written with quotation marks. Alternate translation: "Then I prayed, 'Hear, our God, ... for they have provoked the builders to anger.' So" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)
Hear, our God, for we are despised
Here the word "we" refers to the Jews. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Hear, our God, for our enemies despise us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)
give them up to be plundered
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let their enemies rob them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)
Turn back their taunts on their own heads
The phrase "their taunts" refers to Sanballat's and Tobiah's insults. Here the word "heads" refers to the whole people. Alternate translation: "Turn their taunts onto themselves" or "Cause their insulting words to mock themselves" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche)