1 Sanbalate ficou irritadíssimo quando se deu conta de que estávamos a reconstruir as muralhas da cidade; encheu-se de raiva e insultou-nos. 2 O mesmo fizeram os seus amigos, assim como os oficiais do exército samaritano: "O que é que este desprezível punhado de judeus pretende fazer? Pensarão eles que podem reconstruir as muralhas num só dia? Oferecerão eles sacrifícios? Vejam aqueles montões de pedras queimadas! Serão eles capazes de as pôr como novas?"

3 Tobias, atrás deles, acrescentou: "Basta uma raposa andar ali por cima e aquilo vem tudo abaixo!"

4 Então eu orei assim:

"Ouve-nos, ó nosso Deus, pois esta gente despreza-nos. Que a sua troça recaia sobre as suas cabeças e se tornem cativos numa terra estranha! 5 Não te esqueças do seu pecado; não o ignores; é a ti que insultam, quando dizem isto de nós, que estamos a levantar estas muralhas."

6 O trabalho chegou, por fim, a metade da altura dos muros em toda a volta da cidade, porque toda a gente trabalhou duramente e com grande dedicação.

7 Quando Sanbalate, Tobias, os árabes, os amonitas e os asdoditas verificaram que a obra progredia bem e que as brechas iam sendo tapadas, ficaram muito irados. 8 Chegaram mesmo a pôr a hipótese de enviar um exército contra Jerusalém e suscitar tumultos e confusão. 9 Contudo, nós orámos ao nosso Deus e pusemos guardas à cidade, de dia e de noite, para nos protegermos.

10 O povo de Judá começou a queixar-se que os operários estavam a ficar cansados, no meio de imensa terra e pó, que achávamos que não poderíamos trabalhar sem auxílio exterior. 11 Ao mesmo tempo, os nossos inimigos planeavam cair sobre nós repentinamente e matar-nos, terminando de vez com a obra.

12 Mas os judeus que habitavam no meio deles vieram várias vezes avisar-nos de que os nossos inimigos viriam atacar-nos por todos os lados. 13 Coloquei, por isso, guardas armados de cada família, em espaços abertos, por detrás das muralhas.

14 Fiz então o ponto da situação. Convoquei os líderes e o povo e disse-lhes: "Não estejam com medo! Lembrem-se do Senhor, que é grande e glorioso! Combatam pelos vossos irmãos, pelas vossas famílias e pelos vossos lares!"

15 Os inimigos perceberam que tínhamos conhecimento dos seus planos e que fora Deus quem tinha feito descobrir e frustrar esses intentos; assim, pudemos regressar ao trabalho. 16 A partir daí, metade trabalhava e a outra metade estava de guarda, atrás. 17 Os pedreiros e os outros operários trabalhavam com as suas armas ali perto, ao alcance rápido da mão; 18 outros trabalhavam com as espadas presas à cintura; aquele que tocava a trombeta mantinha-se ao meu lado, para dar o alarme logo que fosse preciso.

19 "A obra é muito extensa", expliquei-lhes, "e estamos separados uns dos outros. 20 Quando ouvirem tocar a trombeta, corram para aqui, onde eu estou, e Deus lutará por nós."

21 Trabalhávamos do nascer do sol até as estrelas aparecerem no céu; metade dos homens estavam sempre de guarda. 22 Disse a todos os que moravam fora da cidade para se mudarem para o interior de Jerusalém, de forma que os seus criados pudessem ficar de sentinela à noite, e ajudar na obra de dia. 23 Durante esse tempo, nenhum de nós, nem eu, nem os meus irmãos, nem os meus servos ou qualquer dos guardas que estavam comigo, ninguém tirou sequer a roupa que trazia vestida. Também trazíamos sempre as armas connosco.

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 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?*4.2 fortify…: Heb. leave to themselves 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 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:*4.4 despised: Heb. despite 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 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 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, *4.7 were made up: Heb. ascended 8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.*4.8 to hinder…: Heb. to make an error to it 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 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 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 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.*4.12 From all…: or, That from all places ye must return to us

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.*4.13 in the…: Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc 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 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 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 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 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.*4.18 by his side: Heb. on his loins

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 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. 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 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 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.*4.23 saving…: or, every one went with his weapon for water