Nehemiah 3:5

The men of Tekoa worked on the section adjacent to them, but their town leaders ¹  would not assist ²  with the work of their master. ³ 

The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters.

Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to help.

and next to him the Tekoites (except for their nobles, who wouldn't work with their master and refused to get their hands dirty with such work).

Near them, the Tekoites were at work; but their chiefs did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.

Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.

Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.

The men of Tekoa worked on the section adjacent to them, but their town leaders ¹  would not assist ²  with the work of their master. ³ 

¹ tn Heb “their nobles.”

² tn Heb “bring their neck.”

³ tn The plural form אֲדֹנֵיהֶם (’adonehem, “lords”) is probably a plural of majesty referring to Nehemiah (e.g., Isa 19:4; see GKC 399 §124.i). However, some English versions take the plural to refer to the “supervisors” (NIV, NCV, TEV) and others to “their Lord” (KJV, NRSV).