Nehemiah 4

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 When Sanbal at, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that repairs to the wallsof Jerusalem were going forward -- that the gaps were beginning to fill up -- they became very 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 and they al plotted to come and attack Jerusalem and upset my plans.	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, however, prayed to our God and organised a guard day and night to protect the city from them.	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 But in Judah the saying went, 'The strength of the carrier falters, the rubbish heap is so vast that byourselves we cannot rebuild the wal !'	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 And our opponents said, 'They wil never know or see a thing, until we are in there among them, andthen we shall massacre them and put a stop 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 Now when the Jews who lived near them had warned us ten times over, 'They are coming up againstus from every place they live in,'	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 men took up position in the space behind the wal at those points where it was lowest, and I organisedthe people by families with their swords, spears and 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 Aware of their anxiety, I then addressed the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, 'Do not beafraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord and fight for your kinsmen, your sons, yourdaughters, your wives and your homes.'	8 And they all assembled themselves together, to come, and to fight against Jerusalem, and to prepare ambushes.
9 Once our enemies heard that we were forewarned and that God had thwarted their plan, they withdrewand we al went back to the wal , each one to his work.	9 And we prayed to our God, and set watchmen upon the wall day and night against them.
10 From then on, half my own retainers went on working, while the other half stood by, armed withspears, shields, bows and armour to protect the whole House of Judah as they rebuilt the wall.	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 The carriers were armed, working with one hand and holding a spear in 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 Each builder had his sword strapped to his side as he built. Beside me stood a trumpeter.	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 I then said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, 'The work is great and widely spreadout, and we are deployed along the wall some way from one another.	13 I set the people in the place behind the wall round about in order, with their swords, and spears, and bows.
14 Rally to us wherever you hear the trumpet sounding; our God wil fight for 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 And so we went on with the work from break of day until 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 also told the people, 'Let every man, with his attendant, spend the night insideJerusalem; we shal spend the night on guard and the day at work.'	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 brothers, nor my attendants, nor my bodyguards, ever took off our clothes; each onekept his spear in 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.