Nehemiah 4:21-23

New International Reader's Version

²¹ So we continued the work. Half of the men held spears. We worked from the first light of sunrise until the stars came out at night. ²² At that time I also spoke to the people. I told them, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night. Then they can guard us at night. And they can work during the day.” ²³ My relatives and I didn’t take off our clothes. My men and the guards didn’t take theirs off either. Each man kept his weapon with him, even when he went to get water.