Nehemiah 4
1 When Sanballat found out that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious—really mad! He made fun of the Jews
參巴拉聽見我們修造城牆就發怒，大大惱恨，嗤笑猶大人，
2 in front of his colleagues and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these useless Jews trying to achieve? Do they think they can rebuild the wall? Are they going to offer sacrifices? Are they going to finish it in a day? Do they think they can re-use stones from piles of rubble and dirt, especially since they've all been burned?”
對他弟兄和撒馬利亞的軍兵說：「這些軟弱的猶大人做甚麼呢？要保護自己嗎？要獻祭嗎？要一日成功嗎？要從土堆裏拿出火燒的石頭再立牆嗎？」
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, standing beside him, commented, “Even a fox walking on what they're building would knock down their wall of stones!”
亞捫人多比雅站在旁邊，說：「他們所修造的石牆，就是狐狸上去也必跐倒。」
4 I prayed, “Lord, please listen to us, because we are being treated with contempt. Rain down their insults on their own heads! Let them be taken away like plunder, prisoners in a foreign land!
我們的上帝啊，求你垂聽，因為我們被藐視。求你使他們的毀謗歸於他們的頭上，使他們在擄到之地作為掠物。
5 Don't forgive their guilt or blot out their sins, for they have made you angry in front of the builders.”
不要遮掩他們的罪孽，不要使他們的罪惡從你面前塗抹，因為他們在修造的人眼前惹動你的怒氣。
6 So we rebuilt the wall until it was all connected, reaching half its height, because the people were keen to work.
這樣，我們修造城牆，城牆就都連絡，高至一半，因為百姓專心做工。
7 When Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being filled in, they were furious.
參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人、亞捫人、亞實突人聽見修造耶路撒冷城牆，着手進行堵塞破裂的地方，就甚發怒。
8 They all plotted together to come and attack Jerusalem and to throw everything into confusion.
大家同謀要來攻擊耶路撒冷，使城內擾亂。
9 So we prayed to our God, and we had guards ready to defend against them day and night.
然而，我們禱告我們的上帝，又因他們的緣故，就派人看守，晝夜防備。
10 Then people of Judah started grumbling, saying, “The workmen are exhausted. There's just too much rubble to clear. We'll never be able to finish the wall.”
猶大人說：「灰土尚多，扛抬的人力氣已經衰敗，所以我們不能建造城牆。」
11 Our enemies were saying to themselves, “Before they know it, before they're aware of anything, we'll appear right in among them, kill them, and put a stop to what they're doing.”
我們的敵人且說：「趁他們不知不見，我們進入他們中間，殺他們，使工作止住。」
12 The Jews who lived close by came and told us over and over again, “They're going to attack us from all directions!”
那靠近敵人居住的猶大人十次從各處來見我們，說：「你們必要回到我們那裏。」
13 So I positioned defenders behind the lowest, most vulnerable sections, of the wall. I had them take their positions by families, armed with their swords, spears, and bows.
所以我使百姓各按宗族拿刀、拿槍、拿弓站在城牆後邊低窪的空處。
14 After inspecting our defenses, I stood up and addressed the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, saying, “Don't be afraid of them! Remember the Lord, who is powerful and formidable! Fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes!”
我察看了，就起來對貴冑、官長，和其餘的人說：「不要怕他們！當記念主是大而可畏的。你們要為弟兄、兒女、妻子、家產爭戰。」
15 When our enemies discovered that we knew about their plan, and that God had foiled it, we all went back to our work on the wall.
仇敵聽見我們知道他們的心意，見上帝也破壞他們的計謀，就不來了。我們都回到城牆那裏，各做各的工。
16 From then on, half of my men were doing the work while the other half were ready to fight, holding their spears, shields, bows, and armor. The leaders stood behind all the people of Judah
從那日起，我的僕人一半做工，一半拿槍、拿盾牌、拿弓、穿鎧甲，官長都站在猶大眾人的後邊。
17 who were building the wall. Those carrying materials worked with one hand, holding a weapon in the other.
修造城牆的，扛抬材料的，都一手做工一手拿兵器。
18 All the builders carried a sword strapped to their side, and the trumpeter stood beside me.
修造的人都腰間佩刀修造，吹角的人在我旁邊。
19 Then I told the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “We have a lot to do everywhere, so we're very spread out along the wall.
我對貴冑、官長，和其餘的人說：「這工程浩大，我們在城牆上相離甚遠；
20 Wherever you are and you hear the sound of the trumpet, run to join us there. Our God will fight for us!”
你們聽見角聲在哪裏，就聚集到我們那裏去。我們的上帝必為我們爭戰。」
21 We went on working, with half of the men holding spears from dawn until the stars came out.
於是，我們做工，一半拿兵器，從天亮直到星宿出現的時候。
22 I also told the people, “Everyone including servants must spend the night inside Jerusalem, so they can be on guard duty at night and work during the day.”
那時，我又對百姓說：「各人和他的僕人當在耶路撒冷住宿，好在夜間保守我們，白晝做工。」
23 During that time none of us changed our clothes—not me or my brothers or my men or the guards with me. Everyone carried their weapons at all times, even to go for water.
這樣，我和弟兄僕人，並跟從我的護兵都不脫衣服，出去打水也帶兵器。
