6. So we rebuilt the wall until all of it went halfway up. The people were willing to work hard.
7. But Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men from Ashdod were very angry. They heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls were continuing. And they heard that the holes in the wall were being closed.
8. So they all made plans against Jerusalem. They planned to come and fight and stir up trouble.
9. But we prayed to our God. And we appointed guards to watch for them day and night.
10. The people of Judah said, “The workers are getting tired. There is too much dirt and trash. We cannot rebuild the wall.”
11. And our enemies said, “The Jews won’t know it or see us. But we will come among them and kill them. We will stop the work.”
12. Then the Jews who lived near our enemies came. They told us ten times, “Everywhere you turn, the enemy will attack us.”
13. So I put some of the people behind the lowest places along the wall. And I put some at the open places. I put families together with their swords, spears and bows.
14. Then I looked around. I stood up and spoke to the important men, the leaders and the rest of the people. I said, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord. He is great and others are afraid of him. And fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.”
15. Then our enemies heard that we knew about their plans. God had ruined their plans. So we all went back to the wall. Each person went back to his own work.