Common English Bible w/ Apocrypha CEBA
New International Version NIV
16 But from that day on, only half of my workers continued in the construction, while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Meanwhile, the leaders positioned themselves behind the whole house of Judah,
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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 who were building the wall. The carriers did their work with a load in one hand and a weapon 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 The builders built with swords fastened in their belts, and the trumpeter stayed by my side.
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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 said to the officials, the officers, and the rest of the people, "The work is very spread out, and we are far apart from each other along the wall.
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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 sound, come and gather where we are. 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 So we continued the work, with half of them holding spears from dawn until dusk.
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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 said to the people at that time, "Let every man and his servant spend the night in Jerusalem so that we can guard during the night and work during the 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 Neither I nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor my bodyguards took off our clothes, even when they sent for 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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.