The Lessons from Nehemiah

尼希米记的教训.  Ní xī mǐ jì de jiào xùn. 
[Vocabulary Bank: 教训 = lesson = jiào xùn.]

Once upon a very long time ago, there lived a man named Nehemiah, who served the King of Persia, Artaxerxes, as one of the King’s “Cup Bearers” . A “Cup Bearer” is a highly regarded, high ranking, offical of the King and his main duty is to protect the King from poisoning through the “cup”. In other words, his duties are mainly concentrated on ensuring that the food and drinks the King ate, were safe and often he had to taste samples of these food and drinks presented to the King. To put it in another way, a “Cup Bearer” was regarded as a trusted servant of the King and his confidential relationship with the King often gave him a position of great influence in the welfare of the kingdom. https://youtu.be/1ZfXzzS3U-c

很久很久以前，有一个名叫尼希米的人，他是波斯国王亚达薛西的“持杯者”之一。 “持杯人”是国王受人尊敬的高级官员，他的主要职责是保护国王免于“杯”中毒。换句话说，他的职责主要集中在确保国王吃的食物和饮料的安全上，而且他经常不得不品尝这些呈给国王的食物和饮料的样品。换句话说，“圣杯使者”被视为国王信任的仆人，他与国王的秘密关系常常使他在王国的福祉中享有很大的影响力。
[Vocabulary Bank: 很久很久以前 = Hěn jiǔ hěn jiǔ yǐ qián = A long time ago; 国王 = guó wáng = King; 高级官员 = gāo jí guān yuán = high ranking official.]

Nehemiah, responded to God’s calling.

“Hello, Nehemiah,” : “Oh, you. I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you and how do you know where to find me?” : “The second question is easy to answer as you are now a man of influence in Persia. The first question is slightly complicated, Nehemiah. Things are not well in our home town of Judah. The walls of the township have been destroyed by our enemies and are now standing in ruin. The people there are no longer obedient to the rules of God.” : “Let us pray on this issue, shall we?”

Nehemiah, the Prayful Leader.

“Lord, God of heaven, please listen to the prayer of Your servant.  We have wronged You greatly we haven’t kept the commandments You gave us but remember the word that You gave Moses.  If we are unfaithful You will scatter us among the people but if we keep Your commandments You will gather our people and bring us to the place that You have chosen for us.  Lord listen to the prayer of Your servant and those who honour Your name. Amen.”

“你好，尼希米，”：“哦，你。我好久没见到你了。你好吗？你怎么知道在哪里可以找到我？” ：“第二个问题很容易回答，因为你现在在波斯已经是一个有影响力的人。第一个问题有点复杂，尼希米。我们家乡犹大的情况不太好。我们犹太镇的城墙已经被我们的敌人摧毁，现在已经成为废墟。那里的人不再遵守上帝的规则。” ：“让我们为这个问题祈祷，好吗？”  
[Vocabulary Bank: 见到你 = jiàn dào nǐ = have not seen you; 找到我 = zhǎo dào wǒ = find me; 问题 = wèn tí = question; 回答 = huí dá - answer; 祈祷 = qí dǎo = prayer.]  
“主啊，天上的上帝，请垂听您仆人的祈祷。我们大大冤枉了您，我们没有遵守您给我们的诫命，但要记住您给摩西的话。如果我们不忠，您会将我们分散在人，但如果我们遵守你的诫命，你就会聚集我们的人民，把我们带到你为我们选择的地方。求主垂听你仆人和尊你名之人的祈祷。” 
[Vocabulary Bank: 垂听 = chuí tīng = humbly listen; 您仆人 = nín pú rén = Your servant; 遵守 = zūn shǒu = faithfully follow; 带到 = dài dào - lead us to; 尊你名之人 = zūn nǐ míng zhī rén = those who honour Your name.] 

Nehemiah, the careful Planner.

“Why do you look so sad, Nehemiah? Aren’t you happy here living in the Palace with me, your King?” : “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I’m worried about my hometown of Judea, Sir. The township is in chaos and the City walls have been destroyed by our enemies.” : “Oh, never mind. The Governor in Judea has just been promoted and I can now assigning you there to be the Governor and you task is to rebuild the City. So pack up your personal belonging and go. I shall be sending you the army of soldiers to help you build the walls and you can have the woods from the nearby Judea forrest.” : “Thanks a lot, Your Majesty.” : “Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayers.”

“尼赫迈亚，你为什么看起来那么难过？和你的国王，我，一起住在皇宫里你不开心吗？” ：“对不起，陛下。我担心我的家乡朱迪亚。乡里一片混乱，城墙被我们的敌人摧毁了。” ：“哦，没关系。朱迪亚的总督刚刚被提升，我现在可以指派你在那里担任总督，你的任务是重建城市。所以收拾你的个人物品走吧。我会送你军队来帮助你建造城墙，你可以从附近的朱迪亚福雷斯特那里得到树林里的木才。” ：“多谢陛下。” ：“主啊，谢谢你回应了我们的祈祷。” 
[Vocabulary Bank: 难过 = nán guò = Sad; 对不起 = Duì bù qǐ = So sorry; 敌人 = dí rén = Enemy; 总督 = zǒng dū = Governor; 任务 = rèn wù = Responsibility.]

“Listen, Jews, Priests, Officers and Officials. You see the trouble that we’re in. Jerusalem is in ruins and its gates are destroyed by fire. Come on let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we won’t continue to be in disgrace. The Persian king gives us everything we need. God will make us succeed.”

Nehemiah, the Diplomat who united his people.

“听着，犹太人、牧师、军官和官员们。你们看到了我们所处的困境。耶路撒冷已成废墟，城门被火烧毁。来吧，让我们重建耶路撒冷的城墙，这样我们就不会继续丢脸。波斯国王给了我们所需的一切。上帝会让我们成功。”  
[Vocabulary Bank: 犹太人 = yóu tài rén = Jewish people; 牧师 = mù shī = Priests; 军官 = jūn guān = Soldiers; 困境 = kùn jìng = Difficult situation; 被火烧毁 = bèi huǒ shāo huǐ. = Destroyed by fire.]

Nehemiah, the Particpatory Leader.

“Do they think they can fix things themselves?”

“Do they think they can finish it?”

“Are they going to build the walls from the piles of rubble even though they have been burned to the ground?’

“Even if a fox would climb on it the wall would break.”

“他们认为自己可以解决问题吗？”  
“他们认为他们能完成吗？”  
“即使它们已被烧毁，他们还会用成堆的瓦砾建造墙壁吗？”  
“即使狐狸爬上去，墙也会裂开。” 
[Vocabulary Bank: 解决问题 = yóu tài rén = Solve the problem; 完成 = mù shī = Complete; 建造墙壁 = jiàn zào qián gbì = Build the wall;  狐狸 =  hú lí = Wolf; 裂开 = liè kāi = Break open.]

“Do I care about those negative comments?”

“Of course NOT. Why? Just because I have faith in God. I know that God is with us when He asks us to do this - to build the walls of Jerusalem.”

“I shall convince a team of dedicated believers of God to do this important task. I shall continue to pray for the completion of this rebuilding work. I am convinced that God will want His people to return to this country.”

“我在乎那些负面评论吗？”
“当然不会。为什么？只是因为我对上帝有信心。我知道当上帝要求我们这样做时，上帝与我们同在——建造耶路撒冷的城墙。”
“我将说服一群献身于上帝的信徒来完成这项重要任务。我将继续为这项重建工作的完成祈祷。我相信上帝会希望他的子民返回这个国家。”
[Vocabulary bank: 在乎 = zài hū = Care; 负面评论 = fù miàn píng lùn = Negative comments; 当然 = Dāng rán = Of course; 为什么 = Wèi shé me = Why; 对上帝有信心 = duì shàng dì yǒu xìn xīn = Have faith in God; 说服 = shuō fú = Convince; 完成 = wán chéng = Complete.]

Nehemiah built a team.

“Great work everybody we’re halfway there already because you’re working so hard.”

“But the wall is going to fall down. The stones are too broken and it’s impossible to build.”

“Don’t worry about it. God will support us in our work. It will succeed.”

“大家干得好，我们已经完成了一半，因为你们工作很努力。”
“可是墙要塌了，石头太碎了，根本不可能盖起来。”
“别担心，上帝会支持我们的工作。我们的工作会成功的。”  
[Vocabulary bank: 干得好 = gàn dé hǎo = Well done; 很努力 = hěn nǔ lì = Very hardworking; 石头 = shí tou  = Stone; 太碎 = tài suì = Too broken; 根本 = gēn běn= At its roots; 别担心 = Bié dān xīn = Don't worry; 支持 = zhī chí = Support.]

Nehemiah, the Administrative Reformer.

“Hum, so the work on the walls is progressing and the gaps are being closed.
We have to do something to stop the wall from finishing.”

“If we attack Nehemiah’s team now we can just walk through the gaps in the walls.
Before they know I, we’ll be inside the city to stop the work.”

“What a brilliant idea!”

“I had a dream - a dream from God. We shall be attacked tomorrow. We shall now prepare to stop our enemies from destroying the wall. Let us discuss our defence now.”

“嗯，所以墙壁上的工作正在取得进展并且差距正在缩小。
我们必须做点什么来阻止这堵墙完工。”
“如果我们现在攻击 Nehemiah 的团队，我们就可以穿过墙壁上的缝隙。
在他们知道我之前，我们会在城内停止工作。”
“真是个绝妙的主意！”
“我做了一个梦——一个来自上帝的梦。我们明天将受到攻击。我们现在要准备阻止我们的敌人摧毁城墙。让我们现在讨论我们的防御。”

Nehemiah cared for his people and their situations.

“Listen everybody, the enemy could attack at any moment. When you hear the trumpet sound come and gather right here. Fight for your families, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses. Remember that the Lord is great and powerful.”

尼希米关心他的子民和他们的处境。
“大家听着，敌人随时可能进攻。当你听到号角声时，就聚集在这里。为你的家人、你的儿子、你的女儿、你的妻子和你的房子而战。记住主是伟大而有能力的。 “

Nehemiah defined the reality of any situation.

“We’ll have to try something else.   A trap.  We shall write Nehemiah a letter.  Dear Nehemiah, we have heard that the building project is going well and that there are no gaps left in the wall.  Great job.  Let’s meet together over here, kind regards, your neighbours.”

“But they just want to trick us. No way we are walking into their trap. Sorry, we have important work to do and I can’t come over.”

尼希米定义了任何情况的现实。
“我们必须尝试别的东西。一个陷阱。我们应该给尼希米写一封信。亲爱的尼希米，我们听说建筑工程进展顺利，墙上没有留下任何缝隙。干得好。让我们一起见面吧在这里，亲切的问候，你的邻居。”
“但他们只是想骗我们。我们不会走进他们的陷阱。抱歉，我们有重要的工作要做，我不能过来。”

“Can’t come down!  We have heard that you are building this wall just to rebel and become king yourself.  Now the king wants to hear about this.  So come.  Let’s talk together.”

“None of this is true.  You’re just making this up!”

“Why won’t they come?”  

“They tried tricking us like this several times now.  We just have to trust God and keep on building the wall.”

“不能下来！我们听说你修筑这堵墙就是为了造反自己称王。现在国王想听听这件事。所以来吧。我们一起谈谈。” “这一切都不是真的。你只是在编造！”

“他们为什么不来？”

“他们现在已经好几次试图这样欺骗我们了。我们只需要相信上帝并继续建造隔离墙。”

Nehemiah had vision.

The wall was completed in fifty-two days.

“But that’s impossible, that kind of work in so short a time.  This could only be completed with the help of their God.  Who knows what else they’re capable of doing with their God backing them.”

“I don’t want to know.”

城墙在五十二天内完工。
“但那是不可能的，在这么短的时间内完成那种工作。这只能在他们的上帝的帮助下完成。谁知道在他们的上帝支持下他们还能做什么。”
“我不想知道。”

In order to get their city back, the Jews had to build and fight at the same time.  God was with them and gave them the city as promised.  

The same goes for us. We’re not building on an actual wall but we have to guard our hearts in order to protect them from evil and keep them pure for God. https://youtu.be/c_zF3EyHBgc

为了夺回他们的城市，犹太人不得不边建设边战斗。上帝与他们同在，并按照应许将城市赐给了他们。
我们也一样。我们不是在真正的墙上建造，但我们必须保护我们的心，以保护他们免受邪恶，并让他们为上帝保持纯洁。 https://youtu.be/c_zF3EyHBgc