The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
16 From then on half of my young men worked while the other half stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail armor. Military officers served as backup for everyone in Judah who was at work rebuilding the wall.
16
From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other.
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who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18 Each of the builders had a sword strapped to his side as he worked. I kept the trumpeter at my side to sound the alert.
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and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
19 Then I spoke to the nobles and officials and everyone else: "There's a lot of work going on and we are spread out all along the wall, separated from each other.
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Then 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.
20 When you hear the trumpet call, join us there; our God will fight for us."
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Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
21 And so we kept working, from first light until the stars came out, half of us holding lances.
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So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
22 I also instructed the people, "Each person and his helper is to stay inside Jerusalem - guards by night and workmen by day."
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At 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.”
23 We all slept in our clothes - I, my brothers, my workmen, and the guards backing me up. And each one kept his spear in his hand, even when getting water.
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Neither 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.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.