Nehemiah 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 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.
2 and they al plotted to come and attack Jerusalem and upset my plans.	2 Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion.
3 We, however, prayed to our God and organised a guard day and night to protect the city from them.	3 We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do.
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 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."
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 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."
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 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,
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 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.
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 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."
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 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.
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 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
11 The carriers were armed, working with one hand and holding a spear in the other.	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.
12 Each builder had his sword strapped to his side as he built. Beside me stood a trumpeter.	12 Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me,
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 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;
14 Rally to us wherever you hear the trumpet sounding; our God wil fight for us.'	14 wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us."
15 And so we went on with the work from break of day until the stars came out.	15 Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out.
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 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.
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 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.