1參巴拉阻撓重建的計謀參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人基善和我們其餘的仇敵聽見我重建好了城牆，城牆再沒有破口。不過那時我還沒有在城門上裝上門扇。
1Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
2參巴拉和基善就差派人來見我說：“請你來，我們在阿那平原上的一個村莊會面吧！”其實他們想要謀害我。
2that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.
3於是我差派使者去見他們說：“我正在進行大工程，不能去。我怎能放下這工程，去見你們，使這工程停頓呢？”
3I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?”
4他們連續四次這樣差派人來見我，我都這樣回覆他們。
4They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them the same way.
5參巴拉第五次這樣差派他的僕人來見我，手裡拿著一封沒有封口的信。
5Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6信上寫著：“在各民族中有這樣的傳說，迦施慕也說：‘你和猶大人陰謀造反，所以你才重建城牆，據說，你還想要作他們的王。’
6in which was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words.
7你又設立先知在耶路撒冷指著你宣講，說：‘猶大有王了。’現在這些話必會傳到王那裡。所以請你來，我們一起商量商量吧。”
7You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.”
8我就回覆他，說：“你說的這些事不是事實，都是你從心裡捏造出來的。”
8Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”
9其實他們眾人是在恐嚇我們，心裡說：“他們的手必軟弱，不能再作這工程，不會完工了！”但我的手更堅定作工。
9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, strengthen my hands.”
10假先知示瑪雅的恐嚇我來到米希大別的孫子、第來雅的兒子示瑪雅的家裡；那時，他閉門不出，他說：“我們在 神的殿裡，在殿的大堂中會面吧！我們要把殿門關起來，因為他們要來殺你，在夜間來殺你。”
10I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, “Let us meet together in God’s house, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.”
11我回答：“像我這樣的人，怎可以逃跑呢？哪有像我這樣的人，進入聖殿裡去保全自己的性命呢？我決不進去！”
11I said, “Should such a man as I flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”
12我看出 神並沒有差派他，是他自己宣講這話攻擊我，因為多比雅和參巴拉收買了他。
12I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13他被收買，是要使我懼怕，照著他說的去作，以致犯罪，他們就破壞我的名聲來毀謗我。
13He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14“我的 神啊，求你記住多比雅和參巴拉，按著他們所行的報應他們；也要報應女先知挪亞底和其餘的先知，因為他們恐嚇我。”
14“Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.”
15重建完成以祿月二十五日，城牆建成，整個工程共用了五十二天。
15So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days.
16我們所有的仇敵聽見了，我們四圍所有的民族都懼怕，敵人的聲勢一落千丈，他們都承認這工程是靠著我們 神的幫助完成的。
16It happened, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were about us were afraid, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of our God.
17在這段日子，猶大人的貴族寫了許多信給多比雅，多比雅也常常回信給他們。
17Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.
18在猶大有許多人與多比雅結盟；因為他是亞拉的兒子、示迦尼的女婿，並且他的兒子約哈難娶了比利迦的兒子米書蘭的女兒為妻。
18For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
19不但這樣，他們也常常在我面前提起多比雅的善行，又把我說的話傳給他；多比雅又常常寄信來恐嚇我。
19Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.