Nehemiah 4:16-18

International Standard Version

¹⁶ From that day on, half of my helpers engaged in the work while the other half kept spears, shields, bows, and armor ready. The senior officials backed all of the Judeans ¹⁷ who worked on the wall. Those who carried building materials worked with one hand, carrying a spear in the other. ¹⁸ Each builder worked with a sword strapped to his side, while a trumpeter remained beside me to sound an alarm.^[a]