Neemias, 4

1. Quando Sanabalat, Tobias, os árabes, os amonitas e os azoteus souberam que prosseguíamos na reparação das muralhas de Jerusalém e que as fendas começavam a desaparecer, ficaram enraivecidos.

1. But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

2. Coligaram-se todos para vir atacar Jerusalém e semear ali a confusão.*

2. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

3. Fizemos oração ao nosso Deus e estabelecemos uma guarda de dia e de noite para nos proteger contra eles.

3. Now Tobiah the Ammonite [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

4. Já o povo de Judá dizia: “Os transportadores estão quase sem forças e há ainda grande quantidade de escombros. Jamais conseguiremos reconstruir a muralha”.

4. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

5. E nossos inimigos diziam: “Vamos atacá-los sem que saibam e antes que vejam algo. Nós os mataremos e faremos parar a obra”.

5. And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders.

6. Os judeus que habitavam nas vizinhanças vieram até dez vezes advertir-nos acerca dos lugares de onde possivelmente nossos inimigos viriam atacar-nos.

6. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

7. Coloquei, pois, como anteparo, por detrás das muralhas, nos pontos descobertos, o povo dividido em famílias, com as suas espadas, lanças e arcos.

7. But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

8. Tendo terminado a inspeção, achei que era de meu dever exortar os homens importantes, os magistrados e o restante do povo: “Não tenhais medo deles!” – disse-lhes eu –. “Lembrai-vos de que o Senhor é grande e temível; combatei por vossos irmãos, vossos filhos e filhas, vossas mulheres e vossas casas!”.

8. And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

9. Quando nossos inimigos souberam que estávamos informados, compreenderam que Deus lhes aniquilava o projeto. Nós, pois, retornamos todos à muralha, cada um ao seu trabalho.

9. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10. Mas, depois daquele dia, a metade dos homens trabalhava na construção, enquanto a outra metade estava armada de lanças, escudos, arcos e couraças; e os chefes estavam atrás deles com toda a gente de Judá.

10. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and [there is] much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

11. Entre os que estavam ocupados na muralha, os transportadores trabalhavam com uma das mãos e, na outra, traziam uma arma;

11. And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

12. os pedreiros tinham cada um sua espada na cinta ao redor dos rins; foi assim que se fez a alvenaria. Um corneteiro estava sempre junto de mim.

12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us [they will be upon you].

13. E eu disse aos homens importantes, aos magistrados e ao resto do povo: “O trabalho é considerável e se estende por um vasto espaço; nós nos encontramos dispersos na muralha, uns à grande distância dos outros.

13. Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, [and] on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

14. Quando, pois, tocar a trombeta, de qualquer canto em que vós a escuteis, reuni-vos a nós. Nosso Deus combaterá por nós”.

14. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15. Assim trabalhávamos desde o despontar da aurora até a aparição das estrelas, enquanto a metade dos homens empunhava a arma.

15. And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16. Ao mesmo tempo, eu disse ao povo: “Cada um, com seu ajudante, passe a noite em Jerusalém, para nos auxiliar a montar a guarda durante a noite e a trabalhar durante o dia”.

16. And it came to pass from that time forth, [that] the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers [were] behind all the house of Judah.

17. Quanto a mim, a meus irmãos, a minha gente e aos guardas de minha escolta, nem mesmo trocávamos nossas vestes; cada um guardava sua arma ao alcance da mão.

17. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, [every one] with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other [hand] held a weapon.

18.

18. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and [so] builded. And he that sounded the trumpet [was] by me.

19.

19. And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

20.

20. In what place [therefore] ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.

21.

21. So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.

22.

22. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.

23.

23. So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, [saving that] every one put them off for washing.