1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was advancing and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

2 They all conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause confusion.

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3 So we prayed to our God and set a guard against them day and night because of their threats.

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

4 Then Judah said, 'The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubble that we are unable to rebuild the wall.'

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

5 Our enemies said, 'They won’t know or see a thing until we come among them, kill them, and stop the work.'

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

6 So it happened that the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times, 'Wherever you turn, they will attack us!'

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7 So I stationed people in the lowest parts behind the wall, in the open areas, and I positioned them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

8 Then I saw what was happening; I stood and addressed the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.'

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9 When our enemies realized that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated their plans, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders stood behind all the people of Judah.

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11 Those who were building the wall and those who carried loads were doing their work with one hand while holding a weapon with the other.

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12 Every builder had his sword strapped to his side as he worked, and the one who sounded the trumpet stood beside me.

And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

13 So 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 one another along the wall.'

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather to us there. Our God will fight for us.

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15 We continued the work, with half of the men holding spears, from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16 At that time, I also said to the people, 'Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can be our guard by night and work by day.'

And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

17 Neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each kept his weapon, even when going for water.

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.