Nehemiah 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now it happened that, when Sanballat had heard that we were building the wall, he was very angry. And having been moved exceedingly, he ridiculed the Jews.	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 he said, before his brothers and a crowd of the Samaritans: “What are the foolish Jews doing? Can it be that the Gentiles will allow them? Will they sacrifice and finish in one day? Do they have the ability to make stones out of piles of dust that have been burned up?”	2 Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion.
3 Then too, Tobiah, an Ammonite, his assistant, said: “Let them build. When the fox climbs, he will leap over their stone wall.”	3 We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do.
4 Listen, O our God, for we have become an object of contempt. Turn their reproach upon their own head, and grant that they may be despised in a land of captivity.	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 May you not conceal their iniquity, and may their sin not be wiped away, before your face, for they have ridiculed those who are building.	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 And so we built the wall, and we joined it together, even to the unfinished portion. And the heart of the people was stirred up for the work.	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 Now it happened that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabs, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites had heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been closed, and that the breaches had begun to be repaired, they were exceedingly angry.	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 And they all gathered together, so that they might go forth and fight against Jerusalem, and so that they might prepare ambushes.	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 And we prayed to our God, and we stationed guards upon the wall, day and night, against them.	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 Then Judah said: “The strength of those who carry has diminished, and the amount of material is very great, and so we will not be able to build 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 And our enemies said: “Let them neither know, nor realize, until we arrive in their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.”	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 Now it happened that, on ten occasions, some Jews arrived who were living near them, from all the places from which they came to us, and they told us this.	12 Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me,
13 So I stationed the people in order, in places behind the wall, all around it, with their swords, and lances, and bows.	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 And I gazed around, and I rose up. And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: “Do not be afraid before their face. Remember the great and terrible Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons and your daughters, and your wives and your households.”	14 wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us."
15 Then it happened that, when our enemies had heard that it had been reported to us, God defeated their counsel. And we all returned to the walls, each one to his own work.	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 And it happened that, from that day, half of their young men were doing the work, and half were prepared for war with lances, and shields, and bows, and armor. And the leaders were behind them in all the house of Judah.	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 As for those building the wall, and carrying the burdens, and setting things in place: one of his hands was doing the work, and the other was holding a sword.	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.
18 For each one of the builders was girded with a sword at the waist. And they were building, and they were sounding a trumpet beside 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 far from one another.
20 At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rush to that place for us. Our God will fight on our behalf.
21 And so let us accomplish the work. And let one half part of us hold spears, from the ascent of dawn until the stars come out.”
22 Also at that time, I said to the people: “Let each one with his servant remain in the midst of Jerusalem. And let us take turns, throughout the night and day, in doing the work.”
23 But I and my brothers, and my servants, and the guards who were behind me, we did not take off our clothes; each one only removed his clothes to wash.