Nehemiah 4:18-23
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
18As for the builders, each wore his sword strapped to his waist as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. 19And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. 20At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, assemble to us there. Our God will fight for us.'
21So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared.
22At that time I also said to the people, 'Each man with his servant shall spend the night within Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.'
23So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me—none of us removed our clothes; each took his weapon even to the water.
King James Version
Chapter 4
18For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 19And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. 21So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. 23So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
18Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the one who sounded the ram's horn was beside me. 19Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "The work is enormous and spread out, and we are separated far from one another along the wall. 20Wherever you hear the sound of the ram's horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us! " 21So we continued the work, while half of the men were holding spears from daybreak until the stars came out. 22At that time, I also said to the people, "Let everyone and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day." 23And I, my brothers, my servants, and the men of the guard with me never took off our clothes. Each carried his weapon, even when washing.New Living Translation
19Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, 'The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!'
21We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard.
22I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day.
23During this time, none of us — not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me — ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.
English Standard Version
Chapter 4
18And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
21So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
22I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.”
23So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.
New International Version
19Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, 'The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.
20Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!'
21So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
22At that time I also said to the people, 'Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.'
23Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.
New King James Version
19Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.
20Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
21So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.
22At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.”
23So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.