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.

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.

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.

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

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

So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to have a wise woman brought back from there. Joab said to her,“ Pretend you are filled with sadness. Put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Don’t use any makeup. Act like a woman who has spent many days mourning for someone who has died.

Next to the temple servants, the men from Tekoa repaired another part. They made repairs from the large palace tower to the wall of Ophel.

“‘ “But suppose any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And suppose it refuses to put its neck under his yoke. Then I will punish that nation with war, hunger and plague,” announces the Lord.“ I will punish it until his powerful hand destroys it.

The Lord said,“ Make a yoke out of ropes and wooden boards. Put it on your neck.

I thought,“ The people of Jerusalem are foolish. They don’t know how the Lord wants them to live. They don’t know what their God requires of them.So I will go to the leaders. I’ll speak to them. They should know how the Lord wants them to live. They must know what their God requires of them.” But all of them had broken off the yoke the Lord had put on them. They had torn off the ropes he had tied them up with.

Now then, why are you trying to test God? You test him when you put a heavy load on the shoulders of Gentiles. Our people of long ago couldn’t carry that load. We can’t either.

I gave the same message to Zedekiah, the king of Judah. I said,“ Put your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon. Obey him. Serve his people. Then you will live.

Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls.

Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share.

“‘ At that time I will break the yoke off their necks,’ announces the Lord who rules over all.‘ I will tear off the ropes that hold them. People from other lands will not make them slaves anymore.Instead, they will serve me. And they will serve David their king. I will raise him up for them. I am the Lord their God.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.

These are the words of Amos. He was a shepherd from the town of Tekoa. Here is the vision he saw concerning Israel. It came to him two years before the earthquake. At that time Uzziah was king of Judah. Jeroboam, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel. Here are the words of Amos.

‘ Let Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord.‘ Let bitter curses fall on its people. They did not come to help the Lord. They did not come to help him against our powerful enemies.’