Meanwhile, the opponents of the Jews plotted to make a surprise attack on Jerusalem. And our enemies said introduces the plan that their opponents made to attack and kill them and end their work. The Hebrew text reports the words that the enemies said to each other in the form of direct quotation. Good News Translation simply interprets this as a report about what their enemies were thinking and perhaps saying to each other. The narrative is dramatic at this point, and the content of the quotation should be presented directly or indirectly depending on what creates similar dramatic effect in the receptor genre. If indirect quotation is used to report the thoughts of their enemies, in some languages special reference pronouns will add drama to the account (see the comments on Ezra 1.2).

They will not know or see: Know or see means to “find out.” Good News Translation fills out logical objects for both of the verbs while Traduction œcuménique de la Bible uses a single object for both verbs: “they will not see or know anything.” New English Bible renders it “Before they know it or see anything.”

Stop the work: This is a causative construction meaning to “make the work to cease” (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The focus is on the work that will come to an end if they kill the Jews. For comments on work, see Ezra 2.69 and Neh 2.16.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .