Nehemiah 6:9

6:9 All of them were wanting ¹  to scare us, supposing, “Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won’t get done.”

So now, strengthen my hands! ² 

Nehemiah 6:19

6:19 They were telling me about his good deeds and then taking back to him the things I said. ³  Tobiah, on the other hand, sent letters in order to scare ⁴  me.

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¹ tn The participle has a desiderative nuance here, describing the desire of the subject and not necessarily the actual outcome. See also v. 14.

² tn The statement “So now, strengthen my hands” is frequently understood as an implied prayer, but is taken differently by NAB (“But instead, I now redoubled my efforts”).

³ tn Heb “my words.”

⁴ tn Or “to intimidate” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT).