1Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.
1參巴拉聽見我們修造城牆就發怒，大大惱恨，嗤笑猶大人，
2He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy [men] of Samaria and said, 'What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore [it] for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?'
2對他弟兄和撒瑪利亞的軍兵說：這些軟弱的猶大人做甚麼呢？要保護自己麼？要獻祭麼？要一日成功麼？要從土堆裡拿出火燒的石頭再立牆麼？
3Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] near him and he said, 'Even what they are building-- if a fox should jump on [it], he would break their stone wall down!'
3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。
4Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.
4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的頭上，使他們在擄到之地作為掠物。
5Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.
5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。
6So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its [height], for the people had a mind to work.
6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。
7Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, [and] that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry.
7參巴拉、多比雅、亞拉伯人、亞捫人、亞實突人聽見修造耶路撒冷城牆，著手進行堵塞破裂的地方，就甚發怒。
8All of them conspired together to come [and] fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it.
8大家同謀要來攻擊耶路撒冷，使城內擾亂。
9But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.
9然而，我們禱告我們的神，又因他們的緣故，就派人看守，晝夜防備。
10Thus in Judah it was said, 'The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.'
10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。
11Our enemies said, 'They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.'
11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。
12When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, 'They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,'
12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裡。
13then I stationed [men] in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.
13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。
14When I saw [their fear], I rose and spoke 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, your daughters, your wives and your houses.'
14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。
15When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
15仇敵聽見我們知道他們的心意，見神也破壞他們的計謀，就不來了。我們都回到城牆那裡，各做各的工。
16From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains [were] behind the whole house of Judah.
16從那日起，我的僕人一半做工，一半拿槍、拿盾牌、拿弓、穿（或譯：拿）鎧甲，官長都站在猶大眾人的後邊。
17Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took [their] load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.
17修造城牆的，扛抬材料的，都一手做工一手拿兵器。
18As for the builders, each [wore] his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter [stood] near me.
18修造的人都腰間佩刀修造，吹角的人在我旁邊。
19I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, 'The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another.
19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'At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.'
20你們聽見角聲在哪裡，就聚集到我們那裡去。我們的神必為我們爭戰。
21So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared.
21於是，我們做工，一半拿兵器，從天亮直到星宿出現的時候。
22At that time I also said to the people, 'Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.'
22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。
23So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each [took] his weapon [even to] the water.
23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。