1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Nehemiah 4:17

Of them that built on the wall, and that carried burdens, and that laded: with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he held a sword.

Sword. Hebrew, "dart." (Calmet) --- The expression seems to be proverbial. So Ovid makes Canacea speak, "My right hand holds the pen, my left the sword;" (Haydock) while I write, I am on the point of killing myself. (Calmet) Dextra tenet calamum, strictum tenet altera ferrum. (Ep. Her.)