Nehemiah 4:9-17

But we prayed to our God and appointed guards to watch for them day and night. The people of Judah said, “The workers are getting tired. There is so much trash we cannot rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “The Jews won’t know or see anything until we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” Then the Jewish people who lived near our enemies came and told us ten times, “Everywhere you turn, the enemy will attack us.” So I put people behind the lowest places along the wall—the open places—and I put families together with their swords, spears, and bows. Then I looked around and stood up and said to the important men, the leaders, and the rest of the people: “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and powerful. Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans and that God had ruined their plans. So we all went back to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on, half my people worked on the wall. The other half was ready with spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stood in back of the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and carried a weapon with the other.