For allof them were [trying] to frightenus, thinking,"They will becomediscouragedwith the workand it will not be done."But now,[O God], strengthenmy hands.
"But you, be strongand do not losecourage,for thereis rewardfor your work."
They calledthis out with a loudvoicein the languageof Judahto the peopleof Jerusalemwhowere on the wall,to frightenand terrifythem, sothat they might takethe city.
Allthose aboutthem encouragedthem with articlesof silver,with gold,with goods,with cattleand with valuables,asidefrom allthat was givenas a freewilloffering.
Remember,O my God,Tobiahand Sanballataccording to theseworksof theirs, and alsoNoadiahthe prophetessand the restof the prophetswhowere [trying] to frightenme.
On the dayI called,You answeredme; You mademe boldwith strengthin my soul.
WhenI am afraid,I will putmy trustin You.
O God,[You are] awesomefrom Your sanctuary.The Godof IsraelHimselfgivesstrengthand powerto the people.Blessedbe God!
In You, O LORD,I have takenrefuge;Let me neverbe ashamed.
He givesstrengthto the weary,And to [him who] lacksmightHe increasespower.
Do not fear,for I am with you; Do not anxiously lookabout you, for I am your God.I will strengthenyou, surelyI will helpyou, SurelyI will upholdyou with My righteousrighthand.'
Then the officialssaidto the king,"Nowlet thismanbe putto death,inasmuchas he is discouragingthe menof warwho are leftin thiscityand allthe people,by speakingsuchwordsto them; for thismanis not seekingthe well-beingof thispeoplebut rathertheir harm."
For I will strengthenthe armsof the kingof Babylonand putMy swordin his hand;and I will breakthe armsof Pharaoh,so that he will groanbeforehim with the groaningsof a woundedman.
"And I will strengthenthem in the LORD,And in His namethey will walk,"declaresthe LORD.
And He has saidto me, "My graceis sufficientfor you, for poweris perfectedin weakness."Most gladly,therefore,I will ratherboastaboutmy weaknesses,sothat the powerof Christmay dwellin me.
that He would grantyou, accordingto the richesof His glory,to be strengthenedwith powerthroughHis Spiritin the innerman,
Finally,be strongin the Lordand in the strengthof His might.
I can doall thingsthroughHim who strengthensme.
Therefore,strengthenthe handsthat are weakand the kneesthat are feeble,
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
Moreover Davidwas greatlydistressedbecausethe peoplespokeof stoninghim, for allthe peoplewere embittered,eachonebecauseof his sonsand his daughters.But Davidstrengthenedhimself in the LORDhis God.
