Nehemiah 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	JERUSALEM
1 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.	1 Lorsque Sânballat, Tobiyya, les Arabes, les Ammonites et les Ashdodites apprirent que lesréparations du rempart de Jérusalem avançaient - que les brèches commençaient à être comblées -, ils se mirentfort en colère;
2 Thereupon they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and thus to throw us into confusion.	2 ils se jurèrent tous mutuellement de venir attaquer Jérusalem et de me confondre.
3 We prayed to our God and posted a watch against them day and night for fear of what they might do.	3 Nous invoquâmes alors notre Dieu et, pour protéger la ville, nous établîmes contre eux une gardede jour et de nuit.
4 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 Juda disait néanmoins: "Les forces des porteurs fléchissent, il y a trop de décombres: nousn'arriverons jamais à relever le rempart!"
5 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."	5 Et nos ennemis déclaraient "Avant qu'ils ne sachent et ne voient rien, nous surgirons au milieud'eux: alors nous les massacrerons et mettrons fin à l'entreprise!"
6 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,	6 Or il arrivait des Juifs qui habitaient près d'eux et qui dix fois nous avertirent: "Ils montent contrenous de toutes les localités qu'ils habitent!"
7 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.	7 On se posta donc en contrebas, dans l'espace derrière le rempart, aux endroits découverts; jedisposai le peuple par familles, avec ses épées, ses lances et ses arcs.
8 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."	8 Voyant leur peur, je me levai et fis aux grands, aux magistrats et au reste du peuple cettedéclaration: "Ne craignez pas ces gens! Pensez au Seigneur, grand et redoutable, et combattez pour vos frères,vos fils, vos filles, vos femmes et vos maisons!
9 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.	9 Quand nos ennemis apprirent que nous étions renseignés et que Dieu avait déjoué plan, ils seretirèrent et nous retournâmes tous au rempart, chacun à son travail.
10 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	10 Mais, à partir de ce jour, la moitié seulement de mes hommes participaient au travail, les autres,munis de lances, de boucliers, d'arcs et de cuirasses, se tenaient derrière toute la maison de Juda
11 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.	11 qui bâtissait le rempart. Les porteurs aussi étaient armés: d'une main chacun assurait son travail,l'autre main serrant un javelot.
12 Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side. Also, a trumpeter stood beside me,	12 Chacun des bâtisseurs, tandis qu'il travaillait, portait son épée attachée aux reins. Un sonneur decor se tenait à mon côté.
13 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;	13 Je dis aux grands, aux magistrats et au reste du peuple: "Le chantier est important et étendu etnous sommes dispersés sur le rempart, loin les uns des autres:
14 wherever you hear the trumpet sound, join us there; our God will fight with us."	14 rassemblez-vous autour de nous à l'endroit d'où vous entendrez le son du cor, et notre Dieucombattra pour nous."
15 Thus we went on with the work, half of the men with spears at the ready, from daybreak till the stars came out.	15 Ainsi menions-nous le travail depuis le lever de l'aurore jusqu'à l'apparition des étoiles.
16 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.	16 En ce temps-là, je dis encore au peuple: "Chacun, avec son serviteur, devra passer la nuit àJérusalem: de la sorte, nous utiliserons la nuit pour la surveillance et le jour pour le travail."
17 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.	17 Mais ni moi, ni mes frères, ni mes gens, ni les hommes de garde qui me suivaient ne quittions nosvêtements; chacun gardait son javelot à sa droite.