| 厄斯德拉下 |
Nehemiah |
| 1當桑巴拉特和托彼雅，以及阿剌伯人、阿孟人和阿市多得人，聽說耶路撒冷城垣正在進行修建中，缺口開始修補，就大發忿怒， |
1When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem was progressing--for the gaps were beginning to be closed up--they became extremely angry. |
| 2都聯合起來，圖謀來攻打耶路撒冷，擾亂我們。 |
2Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion. |
| 3我們一面祈求我們的天主，一面派了衛隊，日夜防守。 |
3We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do. |
| 4有一個猶太人說：「運夫的力量已耗盡，積土又太多，我們不能再修城牆了！」 |
4Meanwhile the Judahites were saying: "Slackened is the bearers' strength, there is no end to the rubbish; Never shall we be able the wall to rebuild." |
| 5我們的仇敵原已議決說：「不讓他們知道，不讓他們看出，我們直衝入他們中間，將他們殺掉，停止那工程。」 |
5Our enemies thought, "Before they are aware of it or see us, we shall come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work." |
| 6那時，有些靠近他們居住的猶太人，十次前來通知我們說：「他們由所住的各方上來，攻打我們， |
6When the Jews who lived near them had come to us from one place after another, and had told us ten times over that they were about to attack us, |
| 7已在城牆下低處的田野中安了營。」我就按照家族分派了人，帶上刀槍和弓。 |
7I stationed guards down below, behind the wall, near the exposed points, assigning them by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows. |
| 8我巡視之後，就起來對權貴、長官和其餘的人民說：「對他們，你們不可畏縮！要記住吾主是偉大而可畏的；應為你們的兄弟、兒女、妻子、家庭而作戰。」 |
8I made an inspection, then addressed these words to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Have no fear of them! Keep in mind the LORD, who is great and to be feared, and fight for your brethren, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes." |
| 9我們的敵人一聽說我們得了情報，同時天主也破壞了他們的陰謀，他們遂都撤退；我們也都回到城牆那裏，各返自己的工作崗位。 |
9When our enemies became aware that we had been warned and that God had upset their plan, we all went back, each to his own task at the wall. |
| 10從那天起，我的僕人一半做工，一半佩帶着刀、矛、盾、弓和鎧甲，立在全猶大家後邊， |
10From that time on, however, only half my able men took a hand in the work, while the other half, armed with spears, bucklers, bows, and breastplates, stood guard behind the whole house of Judah |
| 11即在城牆作工的人後邊。那些搬運的人，也都武裝起來：一手作工，一手拿着武器； |
11as they rebuilt the wall. The load carriers, too, were armed; each did his work with one hand and held a weapon with the other. |
| 12修牆的工人，每人腰間都佩着刀工作。吹號筒的站在我身旁。 |
12Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me, |
| 13我向權貴、官長和其餘的人民說：「這工程範圍很大，我們在城牆上彼此分離甚遠， |
13for I had said to the nobles, the magistrates, and the rest of the people: "Our work is scattered and extensive, and we are widely separated from one another along the wall; |
| 14所以你們無論在什麼地方，一聽到號聲，就立時聚集我們身旁；我們的天主必為我們戰爭。」 |
14wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us." |
| 15我們便這樣繼續工作，由旭日初升，直到星辰出現。 |
15Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out. |
| 16同時我又吩咐眾民眾說：「每人和他的僕人，應在耶路撒冷過夜。如此，在夜間可為我們守衛，白天可以工作。」 |
16At the same time I told the people to spend the nights inside Jerusalem, each man with his own attendant, so that they might serve as a guard by night and a working force by day. |
| 17至於我和我的兄弟，以及我的僕人和跟隨我、護衛我的人，沒有一人脫過衣服，各人手中常拿着武器。 |
17Neither I, nor my kinsmen, nor any of my attendants, nor any of the bodyguard that accompanied me took off his clothes; everyone kept his weapon at his right hand. |
