Nehemiah 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was progressing--for the gaps were beginning to be closed up--they became extremely angry.	1 And it came to pass, that when Sanaballat heard that we were building the wall he was angry: and being moved exceedingly he scoffed at the Jews.
2 Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion.	2 And said before his brethren, and the multitude of the Samaritans: What are the silly Jews doing? Will the Gentiles let them alone? will they sacrifice and make an end in a day? are they able to raise stones out of the heaps of the rubbish, which are burnt?
3 We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do.	3 Tobias also the Ammonite who was by him said : Let them build: if a fox go up, he will leap over their stone wall.
4 Meanwhile the Judahites were saying: "Slackened is the bearers' strength, there is no end to the rubbish; Never shall we be able the wall to rebuild."	4 Hear thou our God, for we are despised: turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them to be despised in a land of captivity.
5 Our enemies thought, "Before they are aware of it or see us, we shall come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work."	5 Cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thy face, because they have mocked thy builders.
6 When the Jews who lived near them had come to us from one place after another, and had told us ten times over that they were about to attack us,	6 So we built the wall, and joined it all together unto the half thereof: and the heart of the people was excited to work.
7 I stationed guards down below, behind the wall, near the exposed points, assigning them by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows.	7 And it came to pass, when Sanaballat, and Tobias, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Azotians heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and the breaches began to be closed, that they were exceedingly angry.
8 I made an inspection, then addressed these words to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Have no fear of them! Keep in mind the LORD, who is great and to be feared, and fight for your brethren, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes."	8 And they all assembled themselves together, to come, and to fight against Jerusalem, and to prepare ambushes.
9 When our enemies became aware that we had been warned and that God had upset their plan, we all went back, each to his own task at the wall.	9 And we prayed to our God, and set watchmen upon the wall day and night against them.
10 From that time on, however, only half my able men took a hand in the work, while the other half, armed with spears, bucklers, bows, and breastplates, stood guard behind the whole house of Judah	10 And Juda said: The strength of the bearer of burdens is decayed, and the rubbish is very much, and we shall not be able to build the wall.
11 as they rebuilt the wall. The load carriers, too, were armed; each did his work with one hand and held a weapon with the other.	11 And our enemies said: Let them not know, nor understand, till we come in the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.
12 Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me,	12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews that dwelt by them came and told us ten times, out of all the places from whence they came to us,
13 for I had said to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Our work is scattered and extensive, and we are widely separated from one another along the wall;	13 I set the people in the place behind the wall round about in order, with their swords, and spears, and bows.
14 wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us."	14 And I looked and rose up: and I said to the chief men and the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: be not afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your houses.
15 Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out.	15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that the thing had been told us, that God defeated their counsel. And we returned all of us to the walls, every man to his work.
16 At the same time I told the people to spend the nights inside Jerusalem, each man with his own attendant, so that they might serve as a guard by night and a working force by day.	16 And it came to pass from that day forward, that half of their young men did the work, and half were ready for to fight, with spears, and shields, and bows, and coats of mail, and the rulers were behind them in all the house of Juda.
17 Neither I, nor my kinsmen, nor any of my attendants, nor any of the bodyguard that accompanied me took off his clothes; everyone kept his weapon at his right hand.	17 Of them that built on the wall and that carried burdens, and that laded: with one of his hands he did the work, and with the other he held a sword.
	18 For every one of the builders was girded with a sword about his reins. And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me.
	19 And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall one far from another:
	20 In what place soever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, run all thither unto us: our God will fight for us.
	21 And let us do the work: and let one half of us hold our spears from the rising of the morning, till the stars appear.
	22 At that time also I said to the people: Let every one with his servant stay in the midst of Jerusalem, and let us take our turns in the night, and by day, to work.
	23 Now I and my brethren, and my servants, and the watchmen that followed me, did not put off our clothes: only every man stripped himself when he was to be washed.