< 尼希米記 6 >

1 參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人基善和我們其餘的仇敵聽見我已經修完了城牆,其中沒有破裂之處(那時我還沒有安門扇)的,
And it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobijah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),
2 參巴拉和基善就打發人來見我,說:「請你來,我們在阿挪平原的一個村莊相會。」他們卻想害我。
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 於是我差遣人去見他們,說:「我現在辦理大工,不能下去。焉能停工下去見你們呢?」
And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?
4 他們這樣四次打發人來見我,我都如此回答他們。
And they sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them in the same manner.
5 參巴拉第五次打發僕人來見我,手裏拿着未封的信,
Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in this manner the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,
6 信上寫着說:「外邦人中有風聲,迦施慕也說,你和猶大人謀反,修造城牆,你要作他們的王;
in which was written: It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says [it, that] thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou buildest the wall, and according to these words thou wilt become their king.
7 你又派先知在耶路撒冷指着你宣講,說在猶大有王。現在這話必傳與王知;所以請你來,與我們彼此商議。」
And thou hast also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning thee at Jerusalem saying, There is a king in Judah! And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 我就差遣人去見他,說:「你所說的這事,一概沒有,是你心裏捏造的。」
And I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.
9 他們都要使我們懼怕,意思說,他們的手必軟弱,以致工作不能成就。上帝啊,求你堅固我的手。
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be slackened from the work, that it be not carried out. — Now therefore strengthen my hands!
10 我到了米希大別的孫子、第來雅的兒子示瑪雅家裏;那時,他閉門不出。他說:「我們不如在上帝的殿裏會面,將殿門關鎖;因為他們要來殺你,就是夜裏來殺你。」
And I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who had shut himself up. And he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they are coming to kill thee; even in the night are they coming to kill thee.
11 我說:「像我這樣的人豈要逃跑呢?像我這樣的人豈能進入殿裏保全生命呢?我不進去!」
And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, could go into the temple, and live? I will not go in.
12 我看明上帝沒有差遣他,是他自己說這話攻擊我,是多比雅和參巴拉賄買了他。
And I perceived, and behold, God had not sent him; for he pronounced this prophecy against me; and Tobijah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 賄買他的緣故,是要叫我懼怕,依從他犯罪,他們好傳揚惡言毀謗我。
Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have wherewith to spread an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 我的上帝啊,多比雅、參巴拉、女先知挪亞底,和其餘的先知要叫我懼怕,求你記念他們所行的這些事。
My God, remember Tobijah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.
15 以祿月二十五日,城牆修完了,共修了五十二天。
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16 我們一切仇敵、四圍的外邦人聽見了便懼怕,愁眉不展;因為見這工作完成是出乎我們的上帝。
And it came to pass that when all our enemies heard [of it], all the nations that were about us were afraid and were much cast down in their own eyes, and they perceived that this work was wrought by our God.
17 在那些日子,猶大的貴冑屢次寄信與多比雅,多比雅也來信與他們。
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobijah, and those of Tobijah came to them.
18 在猶大有許多人與多比雅結盟;因他是亞拉的兒子,示迦尼的女婿,並且他的兒子約哈難娶了比利迦兒子米書蘭的女兒為妻。
For there were many in Judah sworn to him; for he was a son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19 他們常在我面前說多比雅的善行,也將我的話傳與他。多比雅又常寄信來,要叫我懼怕。
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. [And] Tobijah sent letters to put me in fear.

< 尼希米記 6 >