Nehemiah 4

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.

When Sanballat found out we were building the wall, he was furious, deeply offended, and began to ridicule the Jews.

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?

He stood before his kin and the Samarian soldiers, questioning with a sneer, "What can these weak Jews do? Can they rebuild? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they bring life to the burned stones from the rubble?"

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.

Tobiah the Ammonite stood beside him, scoffing, "Even a fox could topple their flimsy stone 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:

Listen, our God, for we are belittled. Let their insults fall back on their own heads, and let them be carried off as plunder to a land of captivity.

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.

Don't hide their wrongdoings, don't erase their sins from your sight. They've angered you openly, even in front of those who build.

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

Together, we constructed the wall, uniting it halfway, driven by the people's determination and passion to labor.

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,

When Sanballat, Tobiah, and their allies from Arabia, Ammon, and Ashdod heard that Jerusalem's walls were being rebuilt and its gaps filled, they were consumed with intense anger.

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

They all united, filled with determination and hostility, to wage war against Jerusalem, aiming to obstruct its progress.

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

Despite our fears, we prayed fervently to our God and kept a constant vigil, day and night, due to their presence.

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.

Judah lamented, "Our workers are exhausted, overwhelmed by the debris. We can't rebuild the wall."

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.

Our enemies thought, 'They won't see or know until we're among them, ready to destroy them and halt their progress.'

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.

When our Jewish neighbors saw us, they warned us repeatedly, "No matter where you go, danger will follow you."

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.

So, I positioned people at the most vulnerable spots along the wall, both low and high. I grouped them by families, arming them with swords, spears, and bows, ready to protect their loved ones.

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.

I stood tall, gazing at the leaders and the people, and said, "Don't fear them. Remember our mighty and awe-inspiring God. Stand up and fight for your family, your loved ones, and your homes."

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.

When our enemies realized that we knew their plans and that God had foiled them, we all confidently went back to our work on the wall.

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.

From then on, half of my team worked diligently, while the other half stood guard with their weapons ready. The leaders watched over everyone from the back, ensuring the safety of the house of Judah.

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.

Those who constructed the wall and carried heavy loads worked tirelessly, one hand dedicated to the task and the other ready with a weapon.

For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

Each builder, armed with a sword at his side, worked diligently. Beside me, the trumpet player stood ready.

And 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.

I turned to the leaders and the people, saying, "This task is immense and we're spread thin, each of us isolated on different parts of the wall."

In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

When you hear the trumpet's call, come to us. Trust that our God will bravely battle for us.

So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

We toiled tirelessly, day in and day out. Half of us stood guard, spears in hand, from dawn till the stars graced the night sky.

Likewise 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.

I told the people, "Everyone, along with their servants, should stay within Jerusalem. They'll keep us safe at night and work during the day."

So 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.

Neither I, my brothers, my helpers, nor my guards ever took off our clothes, except when we needed to wash them. We were always ready, always vigilant.