Neemia 4

BIBBIA CEI 1974	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Ma quando Sanballàt, Tobia, gli Arabi, gli Ammoniti e gli Asdoditi seppero che la riparazione delle mura di Gerusalemme progrediva e che le brecce cominciavano a chiudersi, si adirarono molto	1 Now it happened that, when Sanballat had heard that we were building the wall, he was very angry. And having been moved exceedingly, he ridiculed the Jews.
2 e tutti assieme congiurarono di venire ad attaccare Gerusalemme e crearvi confusione.	2 And he said, before his brothers and a crowd of the Samaritans: “What are the foolish Jews doing? Can it be that the Gentiles will allow them? Will they sacrifice and finish in one day? Do they have the ability to make stones out of piles of dust that have been burned up?”
3 Allora noi pregammo il nostro Dio e contro di loro mettemmo sentinelle di giorno e di notte per difenderci dai loro attacchi.	3 Then too, Tobiah, an Ammonite, his assistant, said: “Let them build. When the fox climbs, he will leap over their stone wall.”
4 Quelli di Giuda dicevano: "Le forze dei portatori vengono meno e le macerie sono molte; noi non potremo costruire le mura!".	4 Listen, O our God, for we have become an object of contempt. Turn their reproach upon their own head, and grant that they may be despised in a land of captivity.
5 I nostri avversari dicevano: "Senza che s'accorgano di nulla, noi piomberemo in mezzo a loro, li uccideremo e faremo cessare i lavori".	5 May you not conceal their iniquity, and may their sin not be wiped away, before your face, for they have ridiculed those who are building.
6 Poiché i Giudei che dimoravano vicino a loro vennero a riferirci dieci volte: "Da tutti i luoghi ai quali vi volgete, essi saranno contro di noi",	6 And so we built the wall, and we joined it together, even to the unfinished portion. And the heart of the people was stirred up for the work.
7 io, nelle parti sottostanti a ciascun posto oltre le mura, in luoghi scoperti, disposi il popolo per famiglie, con le loro spade, le loro lance, i loro archi.	7 Now it happened that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabs, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites had heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been closed, and that the breaches had begun to be repaired, they were exceedingly angry.
8 Dopo aver considerato la cosa, mi alzai e dissi ai notabili, ai magistrati e al resto del popolo: "Non li temete! Ricordatevi del Signore grande e tremendo; combattete per i vostri fratelli, per i vostri figli e le vostre figlie, per le vostre mogli e per le vostre case!".	8 And they all gathered together, so that they might go forth and fight against Jerusalem, and so that they might prepare ambushes.
9 Quando i nostri nemici vennero a sapere che eravamo informati della cosa, Dio fece fallire il loro disegno e noi tutti tornammo alle mura, ognuno al suo lavoro.	9 And we prayed to our God, and we stationed guards upon the wall, day and night, against them.
10 Da quel giorno la metà dei miei giovani lavorava e l'altra metà stava armata di lance, di scudi, di archi, di corazze; i capi erano dietro tutta la casa di Giuda.	10 Then Judah said: “The strength of those who carry has diminished, and the amount of material is very great, and so we will not be able to build the wall.”
11 Quelli che costruivano le mura e quelli che portavano o caricavano i pesi, con una mano lavoravano e con l'altra tenevano la loro arma;	11 And our enemies said: “Let them neither know, nor realize, until we arrive in their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.”
12 tutti i costruttori, lavorando, portavano ciascuno la spada cinta ai fianchi. Il trombettiere stava accanto a me.	12 Now it happened that, on ten occasions, some Jews arrived who were living near them, from all the places from which they came to us, and they told us this.
13 Dissi allora ai notabili, ai magistrati e al resto del popolo: "L'opera è grande ed estesa e noi siamo sparsi sulle mura e distanti l'uno dall'altro.	13 So I stationed the people in order, in places behind the wall, all around it, with their swords, and lances, and bows.
14 Dovunque udirete il suono della tromba, raccoglietevi presso di noi; il nostro Dio combatterà per noi".	14 And I gazed around, and I rose up. And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: “Do not be afraid before their face. Remember the great and terrible Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons and your daughters, and your wives and your households.”
15 Così continuavamo i lavori, mentre la metà della mia gente teneva impugnata la lancia, dall'apparire dell'alba allo spuntar delle stelle.	15 Then it happened that, when our enemies had heard that it had been reported to us, God defeated their counsel. And we all returned to the walls, each one to his own work.
16 Anche in quell'occasione dissi al popolo: "Ognuno con il suo aiutante passi la notte dentro Gerusalemme, per far con noi la guardia durante la notte e riprendere il lavoro di giorno".	16 And it happened that, from that day, half of their young men were doing the work, and half were prepared for war with lances, and shields, and bows, and armor. And the leaders were behind them in all the house of Judah.
17 Io poi, i miei fratelli, i miei servi e gli uomini di guardia che mi seguivano, non ci togliemmo mai le vesti; ognuno teneva l'arma a portata di mano.	17 As for those building the wall, and carrying the burdens, and setting things in place: one of his hands was doing the work, and the other was holding a sword.
	18 For each one of the builders was girded with a sword at the waist. And they were building, and they were sounding a trumpet beside me.
	19 And I said to the nobles, and to the magistrates, and to the rest of the common people: “The work is great and wide, and we are separated on the wall far from one another.
	20 At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rush to that place for us. Our God will fight on our behalf.
	21 And so let us accomplish the work. And let one half part of us hold spears, from the ascent of dawn until the stars come out.”
	22 Also at that time, I said to the people: “Let each one with his servant remain in the midst of Jerusalem. And let us take turns, throughout the night and day, in doing the work.”
	23 But I and my brothers, and my servants, and the guards who were behind me, we did not take off our clothes; each one only removed his clothes to wash.