King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
16 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.
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 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.
17
who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
18
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 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.
19
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 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
20
Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
21
So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
22 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.
22
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 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.
23
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.
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