Nehemiah 4:13-23

13So I put some men behind the lowest part of the wall where there were holes. Each of the families had guards with swords, spears, bows and arrows.

14I went round the city and I looked at everything. I said to the leaders, the officers and the people, ‘Do not be afraid of our enemies. Remember that our Lord God is great and powerful. Fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters and your wives. Fight to keep your homes safe.’

15Our enemies realized that we knew what they had decided to do. God had stopped them from doing what they wanted. So each of us went back to our work on the wall.

16After that day, half of my men continued to do the work on the wall. The other half carried spears, shields and bows. They also wore armour. The officers stood behind the people while they built the wall.

17The men who were carrying materials held them with one hand. They held a weapon in their other hand.

18All of the builders had swords tied on their belts while they were building. There was a man who would make a sound with his trumpet if there was danger. He stayed near me.

19I said to the leaders, the officers and all the people, ‘It is hard work and the wall is very long. So we are not working near to each other.

20When you hear the sound of the trumpet, come to join us here. Our God will fight on our behalf.’

21We continued to work on the wall every day, from dawn until it became dark. Half of the men held spears to be our guards.

22I said to the people, ‘Everybody must stay in Jerusalem each night, together with those who are helping them. Then they can be our guards to keep us safe at night. During each day they can do the work.’

23I did not take my clothes off at night time, and neither did any of my friends. The workers and the guards who were with me kept their clothes on all the time. Everyone carried his own weapon whatever he was doing.