4:1 当桑巴拉特和托彼雅，以及阿剌伯人、阿孟人和阿市多得人，听说耶路撒冷城垣正在进行修建中，缺口已开始修补，就大发忿怒，
When 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. 4:2 都联合起来，图谋来攻打耶路撒冷，扰乱我们。
Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion. 4:3 我们一面祈求我们的天主，一面派了卫队，日夜防守。
We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do. 4:4 有一个犹太人说：「运夫的力量已耗尽，积土又太多，我们不能再修建城墙了！」
Meanwhile 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." 4:5 我们的仇敌已议决说：「不让他们知道，不让他们看出，我们直冲入他们中间，将他们杀掉，停止那工程。」
Our 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." 4:6 那时，有些靠近他们居住的犹太人，十次前来通知我们说：「他们由所住的各方上来，攻打我们，
When 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, 4:7 已在城墙下低处的田野中安了营。」我就按照家族分派了人，带上刀枪和弓。
I stationed guards down below, behind the wall, near the exposed points, assigning them by family groups with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 4:8 我巡视之后，就起来对权贵、长官和其余的人民说：「对他们，你们不可畏缩！要记住吾主是伟大而可畏的；应为你们的兄弟、儿女、妻子、家庭而作战。」
I 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." 4:9 我们的敌人一听说我们得了情报，同时天主也破坏了他们的阴谋，他们遂都撤退；我们也都回到城墙那里，各返自己的工作岗位。
When 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. 4:10 从那天起，我的仆人一半做工，一半佩带着刀、矛盾、弓和铠甲，立在全犹大家后边，
From 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 4:11 即在城墙作工的人后边。那些搬运的人，也都武装起来：一手作工，一手拿着武器；
as they rebuilt the wall. The load carriers, too, were armed; each did his work with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 4:12 修墙的工人，每人腰间都配着刀工作。吹号筒的站在我身旁。
Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me, 4:13 我向权贵、长官和其余的人民说：「这工程范围很大，我们在城墙上彼此分离甚远，
for 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; 4:14 所以你们无论在什么地方，一听到号声，就立时聚集在我们身旁；我们的天主必为我们战斗。」
wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us." 4:15 我们便这样继续工作，由旭日初升，直到星辰出现。
Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out. 4:16 同时我又吩咐民众说：「每人和他的仆人，应在耶路撒冷过夜。如此在夜间可为我们守卫，白天可以工作。」
At 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. 4:17 至于我和我的兄弟，以及我的仆人和跟随我、护卫我的人，没有一人脱过衣服，各人手中常拿着武器。
Neither 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.