他们都要使我们惧怕，意思说，他们的手必软弱，以致工作不能成就。神啊，求你坚固我的手。

他们全都要使我们惧怕，说：“他们的手必软弱，不能工作，以致不能完工。”现在，求你坚固我的手。

他们全都要使我们惧怕，说：“他们的手必软弱，不能工作，以致不能完工。”现在，求你坚固我的手。

因为他们想恐吓我们，以为我们会吓得手发软，无法完成工程。但上帝啊，求你使我的手有力量！

其实他们众人是在恐吓我们，心里说：“他们的手必软弱，不能再作这工程，不会完工了！”现在，坚固我的手。

他們都要使我們懼怕，意思說，他們的手必軟弱，以致工作不能成就。神啊，求你堅固我的手。

他們全都要使我們懼怕，說：「他們的手必軟弱，不能工作，以致不能完工。」現在，求你堅固我的手。

他們全都要使我們懼怕，說：「他們的手必軟弱，不能工作，以致不能完工。」現在，求你堅固我的手。

因為他們想恐嚇我們，以為我們會嚇得手發軟，無法完成工程。但上帝啊，求你使我的手有力量！

其實他們眾人是在恐嚇我們，心裡說：“他們的手必軟弱，不能再作這工程，不會完工了！”現在，堅固我的手。

他們都要使我懼怕，意思是說：『他們的手會從這工作上發軟下來，以致工程作不了。』但現在呢、加強我的手吧。

蓋彼眾欲恐我、意謂我手必弱、以致工作不得成功、然我乃強厥手、○

彼言此、欲以懼我、使我心危、工作廢弛、然我志益銳。

彼眾皆欲使我懼、意謂、我必心灰、止息工作、致不得成、主歟、惟求鼓勵我、鼓勵我原文作堅我手○

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking,“ Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed,“ Now strengthen my hands.”

All of them were trying to frighten us. They thought,“ Their hands will get too weak to do the work. So it won’t be completed.” But I prayed to God. I said,“ Make my hands stronger.”

For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking,“ Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.

For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying,“ They will drop their hands from the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.

For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking,“ They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, God, strengthen my hands.

For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying,“ Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.

For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying,“ They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen me.

For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore,[ O God], strengthen my hands.

All of them were wanting to scare us, supposing,“ Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won’t get done.” So now, strengthen my hands!

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.

When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. (niv)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (niv)

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (niv)

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel,they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said,“ Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered,“ You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic language.Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates— the judges, officials and administrators over the people from Persia, Uruk and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.( This is a copy of the letter they sent him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants in Trans- Euphrates:The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer.Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king,so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.The king sent this reply: To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates: Greetings.The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence.I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition.Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them.Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (niv)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (niv)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (niv)

But he said to me,“ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (niv)

Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. (niv)

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. (niv)

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. (niv)

Then the officials said to the king,“ This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.” (niv)

I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord. (niv)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (niv)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (niv)

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said,“ The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”Also our enemies said,“ Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over,“ Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people,“ Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (niv)

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” (niv)

Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city. (niv)

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;say to those with fearful hearts,“ Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” (niv)

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. (niv)

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! (niv)