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

其次是提哥亚人修造；但是他们的贵胄不用肩担他们主的工作。

在他们旁边修造的是提哥亚人；但是他们的贵族不用肩扛他们主人的工作。

在他们旁边修造的是提哥亚人；但是他们的贵族不用肩扛他们主人的工作。

再下一段由提哥亚人修筑，但他们的贵族不肯做督工所分派的工作。

接着这一段的是由提哥亚人修筑；但是他们的贵族不愿肩负他们的主的工作。

其次是提哥亞人修造；但是他們的貴冑不用肩擔他們主的工作。

在他們旁邊修造的是提哥亞人；但是他們的貴族不用肩扛他們主人的工作。

在他們旁邊修造的是提哥亞人；但是他們的貴族不用肩扛他們主人的工作。

再下一段由提哥亞人修築，但他們的貴族不肯做督工所分派的工作。

接著這一段的是由提哥亞人修築；但是他們的貴族不願肩負他們的主的工作。

其次是提哥亞人修造的；但是他們貴顯的人不用肩膀擔負起他們主子的工作。

其次、提哥亞人修葺、然彼之顯者、不肩負其主之工、

其次提哥亞人修葺、然其世職不用力服勞上主之事。

其次、提哥亞人修葺、惟其紳宦、不願為其主之事盡力、

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

Some men from Tekoa repaired the next part of the wall. But their nobles refused to do any work at all. They didn’t pay any attention to the people who were in charge of the work.

And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.

Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors.

Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.

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

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

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their lord.

Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.

So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her,“ Pretend to be in mourning and put on garments for mourning. Don’t anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time.

After them the men of Tekoa worked on another section, from opposite the great protruding tower to the wall of Ophel.

But suppose a nation or a kingdom will not be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Suppose it will not submit to the yoke of servitude to him. I, the LORD, affirm that I will punish that nation. I will use the king of Babylon to punish it with war, starvation, and disease until I have destroyed it.

The LORD told me,“ Make a yoke out of leather straps and wooden crossbars and put it on your neck.

I thought,“ Surely it is only the ignorant poor who act this way. They act like fools because they do not know what the LORD demands. They do not know what their God requires of them.I will go to the leaders and speak with them. Surely they know what the LORD demands. Surely they know what their God requires of them.” Yet all of them, too, have rejected his authority and refuse to submit to him.

So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

I told King Zedekiah of Judah the same thing. I said,“ Submit to the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon. Be subject to him and his people. Then you will continue to live.

Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.

When the time for them to be rescued comes,” says the LORD who rules over all,“ I will rescue you from foreign subjugation. I will deliver you from captivity. Foreigners will then no longer subjugate them.But they will be subject to the LORD their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them.

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

‘ Call judgment down on Meroz,’ says the LORD’s angelic messenger;‘ Be sure to call judgment down on those who live there, because they did not come to help in the LORD’s battle, to help in the LORD’s battle against the warriors.’