Nehemiah 4:13-18

Expanded Bible

¹³ So I ·put [stationed] people behind the lowest places along the wall—the ·open [exposed] places—and I ·put families together [stationed people by families] with their swords, spears, and bows. ¹⁴ ·Then I looked around and [After an inspection, I] stood up and said to the ·important men [nobles], the ·leaders [officials], and the rest of the people: “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and ·powerful [awesome; glorious]. Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

¹⁵ Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans and that God had ·ruined [frustrated; thwarted] their plans. So we all went back to the wall, each to his own work.

¹⁶ From that day on, half my people worked on the wall. The other half was ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The ·officers [leaders] stood in back of the ·people [^Lhouse] of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. Those who carried ·materials [loads] did their work with one hand and carried a weapon with the other. ¹⁸ Each builder wore his sword at his side as he ·worked [built]. The trumpeter [^Cto signal an attack] stayed next to me.