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尼希米勝過阻擋他工作的人

參巴拉聽見我們建造城牆就發怒,非常惱恨,並嗤笑猶太人。 他對他的弟兄和撒瑪利亞的軍兵說:「這些軟弱的猶太人做甚麼呢?要為自己重建嗎[a]?要獻祭嗎?要一日完工嗎?要使土堆裏火燒過的石頭再有用嗎?」 亞捫多比雅在一旁說:「他們所修造的石牆,就是狐狸上去也必崩裂。」 我們的 神啊,求你垂聽,因為我們被藐視。求你使他們的毀謗歸於他們自己頭上,使他們在被擄之地成為掠物。 不要遮掩他們的罪孽,不要使他們的罪惡從你面前塗去,因為他們在修造的人前面惹你發怒。 這樣,我們修造城牆,整個城牆就連接起來,到一半高,因為百姓一心做工。

參巴拉多比雅阿拉伯人、亞捫人和亞實突人聽見耶路撒冷城牆正在修造,破裂的地方開始進行修補,就非常憤怒。 大家同謀要來攻打耶路撒冷,使城混亂。 然而,我們向我們的 神禱告,又因他們的緣故,就派人站崗,晝夜防備他們。

10 猶大有話說:

「扛抬的人力氣衰弱,
瓦礫太多,
我們自己不可能
建造城牆。」

11 我們的敵人說:「趁他們不知道,看不見的時候,我們進入他們中間,殺了他們,使工作停止。」 12 那靠近敵人居住的猶太人十次從各處來見我們,說:「你們必須回到我們那裏。」 13 我叫百姓站在城牆後邊低窪的空處,使百姓各按宗族站着,拿刀、拿槍、拿弓。 14 我察看了,就起來對貴族、官長和其餘的百姓說:「不要怕他們!當記得主是大而可畏的。你們要為你們的弟兄、兒女、妻子、家園爭戰。」

15 仇敵聽見我們知道了他們的計謀, 神也破壞他們的計謀,我們就都回到城牆那裏,各做各的工。 16 從那日起,我的僕人一半做工,一半拿槍、拿盾牌、拿弓、穿鎧甲,官長都站在猶大全家的後邊。 17 他們建造城牆;扛抬材料的人扛抬的時候,一手做工,一手拿兵器。 18 建造的人都腰間佩刀建造,吹角的人在我旁邊。 19 我對貴族、官長和其餘的百姓說:「這工程浩大,範圍遼闊,我們在城牆上彼此相離很遠。 20 你們一聽見角聲在哪裏,就聚集到我們那裏去。我們的 神必為我們爭戰。」

21 於是,我們做這工程,一半的人拿槍,從天亮直到星宿出現的時候。 22 那時,我又對百姓說:「各人和他的僕人當在耶路撒冷過夜,好為我們夜間守衛,白晝做工。」 23 這樣,我和弟兄僕人,以及跟從我的衛兵都不脫衣服,各人打水時[b]也拿着自己的兵器。

Footnotes

  1. 4.2 「要為自己重建嗎」或譯「要把一切交託 神嗎」。
  2. 4.23 「打水時」:原文另譯「手裏」或「右手」。

尼希米戰勝阻力

參巴拉聽說我們正在重建城牆,非常憤怒,就嘲笑猶太人, 當著他的同僚和撒瑪利亞軍兵的面說:「這群弱小的猶太人在做什麼呢?要重建城牆嗎?要獻祭嗎?要在一日之間建好嗎?要用廢墟中燒過的石頭來建造嗎?」

他身旁的多比雅說:「他們建的石牆,一隻狐狸上去就能踩倒!」

我禱告說:「我們的上帝啊,求你垂聽,因為我們正在被人恥笑。求你使他們對我們的凌辱歸到他們自己頭上,使他們被擄到外邦。 不要遮掩他們的惡行,也不要從你面前塗抹他們的罪惡,因為他們在這些建造的人面前惹你發怒。」

眾人全心做工,把整個城牆連接起來,高達原來的一半。

參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人、亞捫人和亞實突人聽說耶路撒冷的城牆正在重建、缺口正在填補,非常憤怒, 便一起圖謀襲擊耶路撒冷,使城內混亂。 但我們向我們的上帝禱告,並設立守衛晝夜防備他們。

10 猶大人說:「工人已經精疲力盡,還有太多瓦礫有待清理,我們自己無法重建城牆。」 11 我們的敵人說:「我們要趁他們不知不覺,進入他們中間殺死他們,阻止他們的工作。」 12 靠近敵人居住的猶太人十次來告訴我們,說敵人會從各方來襲擊我們[a] 13 於是,我按宗族派人手持刀劍、長矛和弓箭守衛在城牆後面低窪的空地上。 14 我察看形勢後,起來對貴族、官員和其他民眾說:「不要怕他們!要記住,主偉大而可畏。要為你們的兄弟、兒女、妻子和家園而戰。」

15 敵人聽說我們知道了他們的陰謀,上帝已破壞他們的詭計,就沒有來。我們回到城牆那裡,繼續各人的工作。 16 從那時起,我的僕人一半繼續修築城牆,一半身穿盔甲,手持長矛、盾牌和弓箭負責守衛。官長都站在修築城牆的所有猶大人後面。 17 搬運工人一手工作,一手拿兵器。 18 修築城牆的人工作的時候都腰間配劍。吹號的人在我旁邊, 19 我對貴族、官員和其餘的民眾說:「這工程浩大,範圍廣闊,我們在城牆上相隔很遠, 20 因此你們一聽見號角聲,就要聚到我那裡。我們的上帝必為我們爭戰!」

21 這樣,從黎明直到星星出現,我們的人一半工作,一半手持兵器守衛。 22 那時,我又吩咐眾人各帶僕人在耶路撒冷住宿。他們夜間可以幫我們守衛,白天幫我們工作。 23 我和我的兄弟、僕人及跟從我的守衛都衣不解帶,刀不離身[b]

Footnotes

  1. 4·12 本節希伯來文意義不明。
  2. 4·23 刀不離身」或譯「出去打水時也帶著刀」。

尼希米战胜阻力

参巴拉听说我们正在重建城墙,非常愤怒,就嘲笑犹太人, 当着他的同僚和撒玛利亚军兵的面说:“这群弱小的犹太人在做什么呢?要重建城墙吗?要献祭吗?要在一日之间建好吗?要用废墟中烧过的石头来建造吗?”

他身旁的多比雅说:“他们建的石墙,一只狐狸上去就能踩倒!”

我祷告说:“我们的上帝啊,求你垂听,因为我们正在被人耻笑。求你使他们对我们的凌辱归到他们自己头上,使他们被掳到外邦。 不要遮掩他们的恶行,也不要从你面前涂抹他们的罪恶,因为他们在这些建造的人面前惹你发怒。”

众人全心做工,把整个城墙连接起来,高达原来的一半。

参巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人、亚扪人和亚实突人听说耶路撒冷的城墙正在重建、缺口正在填补,非常愤怒, 便一起图谋袭击耶路撒冷,使城内混乱。 但我们向我们的上帝祷告,并设立守卫昼夜防备他们。

10 犹大人说:“工人已经筋疲力尽,还有太多瓦砾有待清理,我们自己无法重建城墙。” 11 我们的敌人说:“我们要趁他们不知不觉,进入他们中间杀死他们,阻止他们的工作。” 12 靠近敌人居住的犹太人十次来告诉我们,说敌人会从各方来袭击我们[a] 13 于是,我按宗族派人手持刀剑、长矛和弓箭守卫在城墙后面低洼的空地上。 14 我察看形势后,起来对贵族、官员和其他民众说:“不要怕他们!要记住,主伟大而可畏。要为你们的兄弟、儿女、妻子和家园而战。”

15 敌人听说我们知道了他们的阴谋,上帝已破坏他们的诡计,就没有来。我们回到城墙那里,继续各人的工作。 16 从那时起,我的仆人一半继续修筑城墙,一半身穿盔甲,手持长矛、盾牌和弓箭负责守卫。官长都站在修筑城墙的所有犹大人后面。 17 搬运工人一手工作,一手拿兵器。 18 修筑城墙的人工作的时候都腰间配剑。吹号的人在我旁边, 19 我对贵族、官员和其余的民众说:“这工程浩大,范围广阔,我们在城墙上相隔很远, 20 因此你们一听见号角声,就要聚到我那里。我们的上帝必为我们争战!”

21 这样,从黎明直到星星出现,我们的人一半工作,一半手持兵器守卫。 22 那时,我又吩咐众人各带仆人在耶路撒冷住宿。他们夜间可以帮我们守卫,白天帮我们工作。 23 我和我的兄弟、仆人及跟从我的守卫都衣不解带,刀不离身[b]

Footnotes

  1. 4:12 本节希伯来文意义不明。
  2. 4:23 刀不离身”或译“出去打水时也带着刀”。

Opposition to the Rebuilding

[a]When Sanballat(A) heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates(B) and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble(C)—burned as they are?”

Tobiah(D) the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”(E)

Hear us, our God, for we are despised.(F) Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt(G) or blot out their sins from your sight,(H) for they have thrown insults in the face of[b] the builders.

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah,(I) the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together(J) to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers(K) is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid(L) of them. Remember(M) the Lord, who is great and awesome,(N) and fight(O) for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it,(P) we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon(Q) in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet(R) stayed with me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet,(S) join us there. Our God will fight(T) for us!”

21 So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. 22 At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” 23 Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.[c]

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:33-38, and 4:7-23 is numbered 4:1-17.
  2. Nehemiah 4:5 Or have aroused your anger before
  3. Nehemiah 4:23 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

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.