Nehemiah 4:16-18

New International Reader's Version

¹⁶ From that day on, half of my men did the work. The other half were given spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah. ¹⁷ The people continued to build the wall. The people who carried supplies did their work with one hand. They held a weapon in the other hand. ¹⁸ Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who blew the trumpet stayed with me.