今日讀經

敵人嗤笑

¹參巴拉聽見我們修造城牆就發怒，大大惱恨，嗤笑猶大人，Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews

²對他弟兄和撒馬利亞的軍兵說：「這些軟弱的猶大人做甚麼呢？要保護自己嗎？要獻祭嗎？要一日成功嗎？要從土堆裡拿出火燒的石頭再立牆嗎？」before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”

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。」Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

尼希米的禱告

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。Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.

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。Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.

百姓專心做工

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。So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

敵人同謀攻擊

⁷參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人、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。When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,

⁸大家同謀要來攻擊耶路撒冷，使城內擾亂。and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.

禱告並派人看守

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。So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

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。」Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”

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。」And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”

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。」At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

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。So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.

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。」After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said 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 and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

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。When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.

一手做工，一手拿兵器

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。And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah

¹⁷修造城牆的，扛抬材料的，都一手做工一手拿兵器。who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.

¹⁸修造的人都腰間佩刀修造，吹角的人在我旁邊。And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

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；Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall.

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。」Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”

²¹於是，我們做工，一半拿兵器，從天亮直到星宿出現的時候。So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

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。」At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”

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。So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

窮人的呼號

¹百姓和他們的妻大大呼號，埋怨他們的弟兄猶大人。About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

²有的說：「我們和兒女人口眾多，要去得糧食度命」；Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”

³有的說：「我們典了田地、葡萄園、房屋，要得糧食充飢」；Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

⁴有的說：「我們已經指著田地、葡萄園，借了錢給王納稅。Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

⁵我們的身體與我們弟兄的身體一樣；我們的兒女與他們的兒女一般。現在我們將要使兒女作人的僕婢，我們的女兒已有為婢的；我們並無力拯救，因為我們的田地、葡萄園已經歸了別人。」We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”

尼希米斥責放債取利

⁶我聽見他們呼號說這些話，便甚發怒。When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

⁷我心裡籌劃，就斥責貴冑和官長說：「你們各人向弟兄取利！」於是我招聚大會攻擊他們。and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them

⁸我對他們說：「我們盡力贖回我們弟兄，就是賣與外邦的猶大人；你們還要賣弟兄，使我們贖回來嗎？」他們就靜默不語，無話可答。and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

⁹我又說：「你們所行的不善！你們行事不當敬畏我們的　神嗎？不然，難免我們的仇敵外邦人毀謗我們。So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?

¹⁰我和我的弟兄與僕人也將銀錢糧食借給百姓；我們大家都當免去利息。I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.

¹¹如今我勸你們將他們的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園、房屋，並向他們所取的銀錢、糧食、新酒，和油，百分之一的利息都歸還他們。」Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”

¹²眾人說：「我們必歸還，不再向他們索要，必照你的話行。」我就召了祭司來，叫眾人起誓，必照著所應許的而行。“We will restore it,” they replied, “and will require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required of the nobles and officials an oath that they would do what they had promised.

¹³我也抖著胸前的衣襟，說：「凡不成就這應許的，願　神照樣抖他離開家產和他勞碌得來的，直到抖空了。」會眾都說：「阿們！」又讚美耶和華。百姓就照著所應許的去行。I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

尼希米不吃省長的俸祿

¹⁴自從我奉派作猶大地的省長，就是從亞達薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我與我弟兄都沒有吃省長的俸祿。Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

¹⁵在我以前的省長加重百姓的擔子，每日索要糧食和酒，並銀子四十舍客勒，就是他們的僕人也轄制百姓；但我因敬畏　神不這樣行。The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.

¹⁶並且我恆心修造城牆，並沒有置買田地；我的僕人也都聚集在那裡做工。Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

¹⁷除了從四圍外邦中來的猶大人以外，有猶大平民和官長一百五十人在我席上吃飯。There were 150 Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests from the surrounding nations.

¹⁸每日預備一隻公牛，六隻肥羊，又預備些飛禽；每十日一次，多預備各樣的酒。雖然如此，我並不要省長的俸祿，因為百姓服役甚重。Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine was provided. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

¹⁹我的　神啊，求你記念我為這百姓所行的一切事，施恩與我。Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.

敵人設計謀害

¹參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人基善和我們其餘的仇敵聽見我已經修完了城牆，其中沒有破裂之處（那時我還沒有安門扇）的，When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—

²參巴拉和基善就打發人來見我，說：「請你來，我們在阿挪平原的一個村莊相會。」他們卻想害我。Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

³於是我差遣人去見他們，說：「我現在辦理大工，不能下去。焉能停工下去見你們呢？」So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”

⁴他們這樣四次打發人來見我，我都如此回答他們。Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.

⁵參巴拉第五次打發僕人來見我，手裡拿著未封的信，The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter

⁶信上寫著說：「外邦人中有風聲，迦施慕（就是基善，見二章十九節）也說，你和猶大人謀反，修造城牆，你要作他們的王；that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,

⁷你又派先知在耶路撒冷指著你宣講，說在猶大有王。現在這話必傳與王知；所以請你來，與我們彼此商議。」and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.”

⁸我就差遣人去見他，說：「你所說的這事，一概沒有，是你心裡捏造的。」Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”

⁹他們都要使我們懼怕，意思說，他們的手必軟弱，以致工作不能成就。　神啊，求你堅固我的手。For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.

假先知恐嚇

¹⁰我到了米希大別的孫子、第來雅的兒子示瑪雅家裡；那時，他閉門不出。他說：「我們不如在　神的殿裡會面，將殿門關鎖；因為他們要來殺你，就是夜裡來殺你。」Later, I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house. He said: “Let us meet at the house of God inside the temple. Let us shut the temple doors because they are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you!”

¹¹我說：「像我這樣的人豈要逃跑呢？像我這樣的人豈能進入殿裡保全生命呢？我不進去！」But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Should one like me go into the temple to save his own life? I will not go!”

¹²我看明　神沒有差遣他，是他自己說這話攻擊我，是多比雅和參巴拉賄買了他。I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

¹³賄買他的緣故，是要叫我懼怕，依從他犯罪，他們好傳揚惡言毀謗我。He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me.

¹⁴我的　神啊，多比雅、參巴拉、女先知挪亞底，和其餘的先知要叫我懼怕，求你記念他們所行的這些事。O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.

五十二天城牆完工

¹⁵以祿月二十五日，城牆修完了，共修了五十二天。So the wall was completed in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth of Elul.

¹⁶我們一切仇敵、四圍的外邦人聽見了便懼怕，愁眉不展；因為見這工作完成是出乎我們的　神。When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.

¹⁷在那些日子，猶大的貴冑屢次寄信與多比雅，多比雅也來信與他們。Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them.

¹⁸在猶大有許多人與多比雅結盟；因他是亞拉的兒子，示迦尼的女婿，並且他的兒子約哈難娶了比利迦兒子米書蘭的女兒為妻。For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

¹⁹他們常在我面前說多比雅的善行，也將我的話傳與他。多比雅又常寄信來，要叫我懼怕。Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.

派人管理城門

¹城牆修完，我安了門扇，守門的、歌唱的，和利未人都已派定。When the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.

²我就派我的弟兄哈拿尼和營樓的宰官哈拿尼雅管理耶路撒冷；因為哈拿尼雅是忠信的，又敬畏　神過於眾人。Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.

³我吩咐他們說：「等到太陽上升才可開耶路撒冷的城門；人尚看守的時候就要關門上閂；也當派耶路撒冷的居民各按班次看守自己房屋對面之處。」And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”

⁴城是廣大，其中的民卻稀少，房屋還沒有建造。Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

在哥林多與亞居拉、百基拉同住做工

¹這事以後，保羅離了雅典，來到哥林多。After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

²遇見一個猶太人，名叫亞居拉，他生在本都；因為革老丟命猶太人都離開羅馬，新近帶著妻百基拉，從意大利來。保羅就投奔了他們。There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,

³他們本是製造帳棚為業。保羅因與他們同業，就和他們同住做工。and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

每逢安息日在會堂辯論

⁴每逢安息日，保羅在會堂裡辯論，勸化猶太人和希臘人。Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.

轉向外邦人

⁵西拉和提摩太從馬其頓來的時候，保羅為道迫切，向猶太人證明耶穌是基督。And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

⁶他們既抗拒、毀謗，保羅就抖著衣裳，說：「你們的罪（原文是血）歸到你們自己頭上，與我無干（原文是我卻乾淨）。從今以後，我要往外邦人那裡去。」But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

⁷於是離開那裡，到了一個人的家中；這人名叫提多猶士都，是敬拜　神的，他的家靠近會堂。So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.

⁸管會堂的基利司布和全家都信了主，還有許多哥林多人聽了，就相信受洗。Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

主在異象中鼓勵保羅

⁹夜間，主在異象中對保羅說：「不要怕，只管講，不要閉口，One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.

¹⁰有我與你同在，必沒有人下手害你，因為在這城裡我有許多的百姓。」For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”

¹¹保羅在那裡住了一年零六個月，將　神的道教訓他們。So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.

迦流不受理控告

¹²到迦流作亞該亞方伯的時候，猶太人同心起來攻擊保羅，拉他到公堂，While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.

¹³說：「這個人勸人不按著律法敬拜　神。」“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.

¹⁴保羅剛要開口，迦流就對猶太人說：「你們這些猶太人！如果是為冤枉或奸惡的事，我理當耐性聽你們。But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.

¹⁵但所爭論的，若是關乎言語、名目，和你們的律法，你們自己去辦吧！這樣的事我不願意審問」；But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

¹⁶就把他們攆出公堂。And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

¹⁷眾人便揪住管會堂的所提尼，在堂前打他。這些事迦流都不管。At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

經以弗所回到安提阿

¹⁸保羅又住了多日，就辭別了弟兄，坐船往敘利亞去；百基拉、亞居拉和他同去。他因為許過願，就在堅革哩剪了頭髮。Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

¹⁹到了以弗所，保羅就把他們留在那裡，自己進了會堂，和猶太人辯論。When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.

²⁰眾人請他多住些日子，他卻不允，When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.

²¹就辭別他們，說：「　神若許我，我還要回到你們這裡」；於是開船離了以弗所。But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.

²²在凱撒利亞下了船，就上耶路撒冷去問教會安，隨後下安提阿去。When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.