Nehemiah 4:9-16

New American Standard Bible 1995

Discouragement Overcome

⁹ But we prayed to our God, and because of them we ^(A)set up a guard against them day and night.

¹⁰ Thus ^[a]in Judah it was said,

¹¹ Our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” ¹² When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “^[c]They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,” ¹³ then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the ^[d]exposed places, and I ^(B)stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. ¹⁴ When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “^(C)Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and ^(D)fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

¹⁵ When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that ^(E)God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. ¹⁶ From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.