# Hear, our God, ... for they have provoked the builders to anger. So

Here Nehemiah is praying to God. This can be stated clearly and written with quotation marks. Alternate translation: "Then I prayed, 'Hear, our God, ... for they have provoked the builders to anger.' So" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# Hear, our God, for we are despised

Here the word "we" refers to the Jews. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Hear, our God, for our enemies despise us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# give them up to be plundered

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let their enemies rob them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# Turn back their taunts on their own heads

The phrase "their taunts" refers to Sanballat's and Tobiah's insults. Here the word "heads" refers to the whole people. Alternate translation: "Turn their taunts onto themselves" or "Cause their insulting words to mock themselves" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])