4:4a Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah

¶ Then ⌊their enemies⌋, the local people/residents, weakened the courage/determination of the people of Judah.
-or-
¶ Other people who were living in that place ⌊heard this answer⌋. So/then they did things that discouraged the Jews ⌊because they did not like them⌋.

4:4b and make them afraid to build.

They made them afraid in order to stop them from building.
-or-
They also frightened the Jews so that they would not continue to rebuild ⌊the house of God⌋.

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