13 So I armed the people with swords, spears, and bows, and stationed them by clans behind the wall, wherever it was still unfinished.
14 I saw that the people were worried, so I said to them and to their leaders and officials, “Don't be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and terrifying the Lord is, and fight for your fellow-countrymen, your children, your wives, and your homes.”
15 Our enemies heard that we had found out what they were plotting, and they realized that God had defeated their plans. Then all of us went back to rebuilding the wall.
16 From then on half my men worked and half stood guard, wearing coats of armour and armed with spears, shields, and bows. And our leaders gave their full support to the people
17 who were rebuilding the wall. Even those who carried building materials worked with one hand and kept a weapon in the other,
18 and everyone who was building kept a sword strapped to his waist. The man who was to sound the alarm on the bugle stayed with me.
19 I told the people and their officials and leaders, “The work is spread out over such a distance that we are widely separated from one another on the wall.