Nehemiah 4:10

10 And Judah saith, `The power of the burden-bearers hath become feeble, and the rubbish [is] abundant, and we are not able to build on the wall.'

Nehemiah 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 4:10

And Judah said
Several of the men of Judah:

the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed;
through much labour, in carrying heavy loads of stone and timber to the builders, and yet more through fear of the enemy:

and there is much rubbish;
which ought to be removed, but that the labourers were so weak that they could not do it:

so that we are not able to build the wall;
to finish it before the enemy comes to attack us.

Nehemiah 4:10 In-Context

8 and they conspire, all of them together, to come in to fight against Jerusalem, and to do to it injury.
9 And we pray unto our God, and appoint a watch against them, by day and by night, because of them.
10 And Judah saith, `The power of the burden-bearers hath become feeble, and the rubbish [is] abundant, and we are not able to build on the wall.'
11 And our adversaries say, `They do not know, nor see, till that we come in to their midst, and have slain them, and caused the work to cease.'
12 And it cometh to pass, when the Jews have come who are dwelling near them, that they say to us ten times from all the places whither ye return -- [they are] against us.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.