Nehemiah 4

1When Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he burned with anger and became greatly incensed, and mocked the Jews.

2He said before his brothers and the army of Samaria, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they reinforce it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish in a day? Will they bring the stones to life from the dust heaps, burned as they are?"

3Tobiah the Ammonite stood by him and said, "Even what they build—if a fox climbs onto it, it will break down their stone wall."

4Hear, our God, for we are despised; return their reproach upon their heads, and give them as plunder in a land of captivity.

5Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe their sin from your presence, for they have provoked your anger before the builders.

6We built the wall, and all the wall was knit together to half its height, for the people had a heart to work.

7It happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that restoration of Jerusalem's walls was progressing and that the breaches began to close up, they became very angry.

8They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to confound it.

9We prayed to our God and stationed a guard against them day and night because of them.

10Judah said, "The strength of the load-bearers has failed, and the rubble is abundant, so we cannot build the wall."

11Our adversaries said, "They will not know or see until we come into their midst, kill them, and stop the work."

12It happened that when the Jews dwelling near them came, they said to us ten times, "From all places wherever you turn, they will be upon us."

13I stationed them behind the wall in the lowest parts of the open space and on the bare heights, and stationed the people by their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14I looked, arose, and said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, “Do not fear them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

15When our enemies heard that it had become known to us and God had thwarted their plot, we all returned to the wall, each man to his work.

16From that day on, half my young men worked at the task, and half of them held spears, shields, bows, and armor, while the rulers stood behind all the house of Judah.

17The builders on the wall and those bearing burdens while loading them each worked with one hand at the task and held a weapon with the other.

18The builders each had his sword girded at his side as they built, and the trumpeter was beside me.

19I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and broad, and we are separated on the wall, each far from his brother."

20In whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there to us. Our God will fight for us.

21We did the work while half of them held spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.

22At that time I also said to the people, "Each man with his servant shall lodge within Jerusalem, and they shall be a guard for us at night and work by day."

23Neither I nor my brothers nor my young men nor the guardsmen following me stripped off our garments; none of us did—each kept his weapon at the water.