Nehemiah 4:15-23

New International Reader's Version

¹⁵ Our enemies heard that we knew what they were trying to do. They heard that God had blocked their evil plans. So all of us returned to the wall. Each of us did our own work.

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.

¹⁹ Then I spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. I said, “This is a big job. It covers a lot of territory. We’re separated too far from one another along the wall. ²⁰ When you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us at that location. Our God will fight for us!”

²¹ So we continued the work. Half of the men held spears. We worked from the first light of sunrise until the stars came out at night. ²² At that time I also spoke to the people. I told them, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night. Then they can guard us at night. And they can work during the day.” ²³ My relatives and I didn’t take off our clothes. My men and the guards didn’t take theirs off either. Each man kept his weapon with him, even when he went to get water.