¹⁵ Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans and that God had ·ruined [frustrated; thwarted] their plans. So we all went back to the wall, each to his own work.

¹⁶ From that day on, half my people worked on the wall. The other half was ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The ·officers [leaders] stood in back of the ·people [^Lhouse] of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. Those who carried ·materials [loads] did their work with one hand and carried a weapon with the other. ¹⁸ Each builder wore his sword at his side as he ·worked [built]. The trumpeter [^Cto signal an attack] stayed next to me.

¹⁹ Then I said to the ·important people [nobles], the ·leaders [officials], and everyone else, “This is ·a very big job [demanding work]. We are spread out along the wall so that we are far apart. ²⁰ Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, ·assemble there [rally to us here]. Our God will fight for us.”

²¹ So we continued to work with half the men holding spears from ·sunrise [dawn] till the stars came out. ²² At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his ·helper [servant] stay inside Jerusalem at night. They can be our guards at night and workmen during the day.” ²³ Neither I, my ·brothers [colleagues], my ·workers [servants], nor the guards with me ever ·took off [changed] our clothes. Each person carried his weapon even when he went for water.