Nehemia 4:15

4:15 It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, ¹  God frustrated their intentions. Then all of us returned to the wall, each to his own work.

Nehemia 5:9

5:9 Then I ²  said, “The thing that you are doing is wrong! ³  Should you not conduct yourselves ⁴  in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies?

[4:15]  ¹ tn Heb “it was known to us.”

[5:9]  ² tc The translation reads with the Qere and the ancient versions וָאוֹמַר (va’omar, “and I said”) rather than the MT Kethib, וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyo’mer, “and he said”).

[5:9]  ³ tn Heb “not good.” The statement “The thing…is not good” is an example of tapeinosis, a figurative expression which emphasizes the intended point (“The thing…is wrong!”) by negating its opposite.

[5:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “[should you not] walk.”