14. I looked them over and proceeded to tell the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and awe-inspiring the Lord is. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
15. When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job.
16. From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans
17. who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other,
18. and each builder had his sword fastened to his side. The man who was supposed to sound the trumpet alarm was with me.
19. I told the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “So much work has to be done in different places that we are widely separated from one another on the wall.
20. When you hear the trumpet, assemble around me. Our God will fight for us!”