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

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.

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 he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her,“ Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.

Then came the people of Tekoa, who repaired another section across from the great projecting tower and over to the wall of Ophel.

So you must submit to Babylon’s king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon’s yoke! I will punish any nation that refuses to be his slave, says the Lord. I will send war, famine, and disease upon that nation until Babylon has conquered it.

This is what the Lord said to me:“ Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather straps.

Then I said,“ But what can we expect from the poor? They are ignorant. They don’t know the ways of the Lord. They don’t understand God’s laws.So I will go and speak to their leaders. Surely they know the ways of the Lord and understand God’s laws.” But the leaders, too, as one man, had thrown off God’s yoke and broken his chains.

So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?

Then I repeated this same message to King Zedekiah of Judah.“ If you want to live, submit to the yoke of the king of Babylon and his people.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

For in that day,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,“ I will break the yoke from their necks and snap their chains. Foreigners will no longer be their masters.For my people will serve the Lord their God and their king descended from David— the king I will raise up for them.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel.

‘ Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord.‘ Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help the Lord— to help the Lord against the mighty warriors.’