Nehemija 4
1 Kad je Sanbalat čuo da gradimo zid, razljutio se. Bio je veoma srdit, ismijavao je Židove
Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
2 i vikao je pred svojom braćom i samarijanskom vojskom: “Što poduzimaju ovi jadni Židovi? Kane li možda popraviti, žrtvovati i završiti sve u jedan dan? Zar će iz hrpe praha dozvati u život spaljeno kamenje?”
before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”
3 Tobija, Amonac, koji je bio uz njega, reče: “Neka samo grade! Ali popne li se lisica, srušit će im kamene zidove.”
Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
4 Čuj, o Bože naš, kako nas preziru! Navrni njihove poruge na njihovu glavu. Predaj ih kao plijen u zemlju ropstva.
Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
5 Ne pokrivaj njihova bezakonja i grijeh njihov neka ne bude izbrisan pred licem tvojim jer su se rugali graditeljima.
Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.
6 Tako smo gradili zid, koji je uskoro bio završen do pola visine. Narod je imao oduševljenja za rad.
So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 Kad su Sanbalat, Tobija, Arapi, Amonci i Ašdođani čuli da napreduje popravljanje jeruzalemskih zidova - jer su se počele zatvarati pukotine - veoma se ražestiše.
When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
8 Zakleše se svi zajedno da će napasti Jeruzalem i da će nas smesti.
and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.
9 Mi smo tada zazvali Boga našega i postavljali smo dnevnu i noćnu stražu da bismo zaštitili grad.
So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.
10 A Židovi govorahu: “Snage su nosačima klonule, a ruševina je mnogo: nećemo nikada stići sagraditi zida!”
Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
11 A naši neprijatelji rekoše: “Uvući ćemo se među njih prije nego što doznaju i opaze nas: tada ćemo ih poubijati i tako osujetiti pothvat!”
And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”
12 A kad bi došli Židovi koji žive kraj njih, po deset bi nas puta upozoravali: “Idu protiv vas iz svih mjesta u kojima stanuju!”
At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
13 Postavili smo se u nizinama, iza zida i na goletima; rasporedio sam narod po rodovima, s mačevima, kopljima i lukovima.
So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.
14 Kad sam vidio kako se boje, ustao sam i objavio velikašima, odličnicima i ostalom narodu ovo: “Ne bojte se ovih ljudi! Mislite na Gospoda, velikoga i strašnoga, i borite se za svoju braću, za sinove i kćeri svoje, za žene i kuće svoje!”
After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
15 Kad su naši neprijatelji čuli da smo obaviješteni i da je Bog osujetio njihovu osnovu, mogli smo se vratiti k zidu, svaki svome poslu.
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.
16 Ali je od toga dana samo polovica mojih momaka obavljala posao, a ostali su držali koplja, štitove, lukove i oklope, a glavari stajali iza doma Judina,
And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah
17 koji je gradio zid. I nosači tereta držali su oružje: jednom je rukom svaki radio svoj posao, a u drugoj mu bilo oružje.
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
18 Svaki je od graditelja, dok je radio, nosio mač pripasan uz bok. Trubač je stajao kraj mene.
And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.
19 Rekao sam velikašima, odličnicima i ostalom narodu: “Posao je velik i zamašan, a mi se rasuli po zidu, daleko jedni od drugih:
Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall.
20 skupite se oko nas na mjesto gdje čujete glas trube, a Bog naš borit će se za nas.”
Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”
21 Tako smo obavljali posao od rane zore do prvih zvijezda. Polovica je bila naoružana kopljima.
So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
22 U to sam vrijeme još rekao narodu: “Svaki sa svojim slugom neka noći u Jeruzalemu: po redu ćemo noću stražariti, a danju raditi.”
At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”
23 Ni ja, ni moja braća, ni moji momci, ni stražari koji su me pratili nismo skidali svojih haljina, svatko je držao pri ruci svoje oružje.
So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
