Nehemiah 4:17-23
New American Standard Bible
17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens carried with one hand doing the work, and the other keeping hold of a weapon. 18 As for the builders, each wore his sword strapped to his waist as he built, while [a]the trumpeter stood near me. 19 And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. 20 At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, assemble to us there. (A)Our God will fight for us.”
21 So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from [b]dawn until the stars [c]appeared. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Each man with his servant shall spend the night within Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.” 23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me—none of us [d]removed our clothes; each took his weapon even to the water.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Nehemiah 4:18 Lit he who sounded the trumpet
- Nehemiah 4:21 Lit rising of the dawn
- Nehemiah 4:21 Lit came out
- Nehemiah 4:23 I.e., for washing or resting
Nehemiah 4:17-23
New International Version
17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon(A) in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet(B) stayed with me.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet,(C) join us there. Our God will fight(D) for us!”
21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.[a]
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 4:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
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