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The builders are provided with weapons, and the work continues.

BibleGateway: Nehemiah 4:13-23

ESV Text: Nehemiah 4:13-23


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 1:50 and ends at about 3:55

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13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

     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. 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. 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. 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. 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall 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. 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. 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.(KJV)



Hymn: TLH 449:
My Soul, be on thy Guard

— Organ Audio

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1. My soul, be on thy guard; 
Ten thousand foes arise, 
And hosts of sin are pressing hard 
To draw thee from the skies. 

2. Oh, watch and fight and pray, 
The battle ne’er give o’er; 
Renew it boldly ev’ry day 
And help divine implore. 

3. Ne’er think the vict’ry won 
Nor lay thine armor down; 
Thine arduous work will not be done 
Till thou obtain the crown. 

4. Fight on, my soul, till death 
Shall bring thee to thy God; 
He’ll take thee at thy parting breath 
To His divine abode.