For reviewing and for learning to participate in the Ministry of Translation. 為了給大家複習，兼練習參加翻譯事工。
經節複製在最後。
Scripture: Nehemiah 4: 1-23
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尼希米 4:1-23
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1. Let me briefly set the historical context in case you have forgotten.
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或許你忘了那段歷史，讓我來先把那歷史情境介紹一下。
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2. In 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army captured the Jews, Jerusalem was destroyed, the walls were knocked down, and the temple was burned.
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主前586年，尼布甲尼撒王跟巴比倫的軍隊捕捉了猶太人，耶路撒冷被摧毀。城牆被打跨，聖殿被放火燒了。
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3. The people were deported and were forced into slavery and Jerusalem was left in ruins.
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人民被驅逐，被迫成為奴隸，耶路撒冷被遺棄，成為廢墟。
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4. But God did not forsake His people.
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但上帝並沒有拋棄祂的子民。
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5. He moved a King Cyrus to make a decree to let some of the Jews return.
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他動用了一個國王居魯士作出命令讓一些猶太人回來。
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6. And in three stages, over about a hundred years, they were allowed to migrate back to Jerusalem (home country).
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在分成三個階段的一百多年裡，他們被允許遷回耶路撒冷（他們的母國所在地）。
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7. At first glance, Nehemiah looks a bit dry.
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稍微溜覽一下，尼希米這本書看起來有點枯燥無味。
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8. One commentator refers to it as a "colorless memorandum of assignments."
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一位評論員將這本書稱為「單調的任務備忘錄」。
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9. It reads much like the book of 1 Chronicles with its long lists of names that are difficult to pronounce, information that seems redundant, and a chronology that seems meaningless.
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它看起來很像歷代誌上卷，很多難發音的名字，所包含的資訊看起來是累贅、多餘的，而且牽涉到的年代跟順序似乎很無聊。
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10. It’s hard to muddle through.
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很難草草地蒙混過去。（很難讀出什麼意思？）
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11. But we will try…it has such value.
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但我們會試看看...它值得我們讀看看的。
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12. We are going to look at being encouraged today.
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今天我們要看到受到鼓舞是怎麼回事。
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13. Defeating Discouragement
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打敗灰心（勝過灰心）
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14. Are you familiar with Murphy’s Law?
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你熟悉墨菲定律嗎？
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15. The original “Murphy” was an engineer who conducted an experiment to test human acceleration tolerances.
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墨菲是一個工程師，他進行了一個實驗，以測試人對於「加速」的容忍度。
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16. Unfortunately for him, he installed 16 motion sensors the wrong way, leading to the now famous quotation, “If anything can go wrong, it will.”
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不幸的是，他的技術人員以錯誤的方式安裝了16個「動態偵測器」，引發他隨口而出卻變成名言的抱怨句，說，：「一切可能的錯都會被那人作出來。」，逐漸變呈現在的「一切可能存在的錯遲早一定會浮現出來。」
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17. I guess the corollary is also true: “If everything seems to be going well, you’ve obviously overlooked something.
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我想這個推論也會成立，「如果一切看起來順利進展，顯然是你忽略了一些東西。」
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18. As we come to Nehemiah 4, everything seems to be going wrong all at once.
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當我們看到尼希米記第4章時，一切似乎都同時出錯了。
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19. In Chapter One we know how Nehemiah prayed, in Chapter Two we see how God moved him from the prosperity of Persia to the desolation of Jerusalem.
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在第一章中，我們知道尼希米如何禱告，在第二章中我們看到上帝如何將他從波斯的繁榮中移到了耶路撒冷的荒涼之地。
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20. In Chapter Three, we are introduced to the wall workers and discovered that in wall building work, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
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在第三章，介紹了修建城牆的工人，我們發現在建造城牆的工作上，沒有人能單獨作每一件事情，但每個人都可以作一些事情。
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21. And, because some worked harder, and Baruch worked with more zeal than anyone else, the construction project was really going fast.
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而且，因為有些人工作得更努力，而且巴魯克比任何人都更加熱心，所以建設項目真的很快。
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22. But in Chapter 4, things start to get more complicated for Nehemiah.
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但在第四章，對於尼希米而言，事情變得更加複雜。
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23. Murphy’s Law shows up and reminds Nehemiah that when everything seems to be going well, you’ve obviously overlooked something.
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墨菲定律顯現，並且提醒尼希米，當一切似乎進展順利，他顯然忽略了一些東西。
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24. Did you know that there is a plague sweeping the country today?
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你知道今天有一場瘟疫席捲全國嗎？
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25. I am not talking about the flu, or cancer, or even the common cold.
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我不是在談論流感，還是癌症，甚至是感冒。
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26. This outbreak, however, can be just as deadly as the most dreaded disease known to man.
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然而，這次瘟疫的爆發可能與人類已知的最可怕的疾病一樣致命。
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27. It is called the epidemic of discouragement.
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這流行病被稱為「沮喪」。
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28. At least three things make it such a potent problem.
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至少有三件事情使它成為如此強大的問題。
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29. It’s universal.
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這是普及各地、各界的。
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30. None of us are immune to discouragement.
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我們中的任何人都不能免於灰心。（對於灰心都沒有免疫力）
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31. Everyone you have ever known has been discouraged at one time or another.
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你所知道的每個人都曾經有過氣餒的經驗。
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32. It’s recurring.
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這個病是會反復出現的。
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33. Being discouraged once does not give you an immunity to the disease.
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不會因為氣餒過一次就對氣餒（灰心）產生抗體而變得免疫的。
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34. You can be discouraged over and over again.
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你可能會一次又一次地洩氣。
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35. In fact, you can even be discouraged by the fact that you are discouraged a lot.
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事實上，你甚至可能因為一再灰心而更佳氣餒。
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36. It’s highly contagious.
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這是很會傳染的。
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37. Discouragement spreads by even casual contact.
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灰心喪氣甚至會透過偶爾接觸而傳染。
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38. People can become disheartened because you are discouraged.
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人們會因為無心、沮喪而氣餒、無力、作事情不帶勁，甚至不想作了。
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39. You can be affected because other people are discouraged.
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你可能會因為其他人缺乏動力而受到影響，跟著提不起勁來。
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40. This morning we’re going to focus on both the causes and cures for discouragement.
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今天早上，我們將聚焦討論造成挫折的原因和治療方法。
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41. Let’s begin by looking at the causes.
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我們先看看各種原因。
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42. External Causes of Discouragement
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造成挫折感的外部原因
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43. There are two main types of discouragement:
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沮喪有兩種主要的類型：
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44. One set of problems come at us from the outside, the other set attacks us on the inside.
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一套問題是從外面來的，另一套則是我們內部發動攻擊的。
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45. Let’s look first at the external causes.
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先來看看外部原因。
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46. The wall workers were initially excited.
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建造城牆的工人起初很興奮。
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47. They began the work with great anticipation and joy.
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他們以極大的憧憬、期待、和歡樂開始了工作。
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48. It says of them in verse 6 that the “people worked with all their heart.”
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在第6節中說他們「百姓專心做工」「人們全心全意地工作」。
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49. Things were going well, the people were excited, and the wall was going up.
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事情進展順利，人們興奮起來，牆壁的高度一直增加。
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50. Then something happened.
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然後發生了一些事情。
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51. Getting the work started on the wall was a major achievement, but keeping the workers working proved to be a much tougher assignment.
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開工建造城牆是一個重大成就，但保持工人的工作熱忱顯然是一個更加困難的任務。
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52. Someone has said that exhilaration is that feeling you get just after a great idea hits you and right before you realize what’s wrong with it.
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有人說，興奮之情就是在「你想到好點子，而還沒有看出會遇到什麼問題之前」，那段時間內的感覺。
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53. Where God is at work, the enemy is also at work.
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上帝在工作的地方，敵人也會在那裡工作。
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54. Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was certainly no exception to this.
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重建耶路撒冷城牆當然也不例外。
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55. When people take kingdom priorities seriously, Satan stirs up agitators to block the work of God.
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當人們認真對待國度的優先事項時，撒但總是會激起煽動者阻撓上帝的工作。
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56. These enemies used two types of external forces.
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這些敵對者會使用兩種外在的力量。
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57. 1. The first one was ridicule.
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第一個就是嘲笑。
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58. We see this in verses 1-2: “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed.
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我們在1-2節中看到這一點：「參巴拉聽見我們修造城牆就發怒，大大惱恨，
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59. He ridiculed the Jews…”
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嗤笑猶大人，」
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60. This is the third time in the book that we come across Sanballat, who was Nehemiah’s stiffest opposition.
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這是我們在這本書裡第三次遇到桑巴拉特，這位撒瑪利亞地區的領導人，也是反對尼希米重建城牆最強烈的人。
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61. Every time we read about him he is standing against the work of God, rejecting and ridiculing everything that Nehemiah is trying to accomplish.
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每當我們讀到他的時候，他都在反對上帝的工作，拒絕和嘲笑尼希米正試圖完成的一切。
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62. Someone has said that ridicule is the “language of the devil.”
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有人說嘲笑是「魔鬼的語言」。
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63. Those who can stand bravely when shot at will collapse when they are laughed at.
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那些被槍殺時能夠勇敢地站立的人在被嘲笑時也可能會崩潰。
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64. The enemy often insults the servants of God.
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敵人經常侮辱上帝的僕人。
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65. Goliath ridiculed David when the shepherd boy met the giant with only a sling in his hand (1 Samuel 17:41-47).
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當少年大衛帶著一條甩石繩（或說是「彈弓」）跟那位巨人相遇時歌利亞譏笑這位牧羊人（撒上17：41-47）。
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66. The soldiers mocked Jesus during his trial and the crowd taunted Him while he was hanging on the cross (Luke 22:63-65, 23:35-37).
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在審判期間，士兵嘲笑耶穌，人群在耶穌被懸掛在十字架上時也嘲笑他（路加福音22：63-65,23：35-37）。
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67. Sanballat and his cronies had begun to ridicule the workers even before the work started in 2:19: “…they mocked and ridiculed us.”
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甚至在開始工作之前，桑巴拉特和他的密友們已經開始嘲笑工人了，2:19記載說，：「...... 聽見就嗤笑我們，藐視我們」。
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68. Here in Chapter 4, he is making a speech before the army of Samaria, intensifying the power of ridicule.
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在第四章裡，記載他在撒瑪利亞的軍隊前發表的講話，講一些加強嘲笑的話。
4:2 對他弟兄和撒馬利亞的軍兵說：「這些軟弱的猶大人做甚麼呢？要保護自己嗎？要獻祭嗎？要一日成功嗎？要從土堆裡拿出火燒的石頭再立牆嗎？」 | ||||||||||||||||||
69. Notice that he called the workers “feeble.”
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請注意，他說這些工人是「軟弱的」。
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70. That word means “withered and miserable.”
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這個詞意味著“枯萎和悲慘”。
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71. Next he ridiculed the job they were doing by asking four taunting questions: “Will they restore their wall?” （Can they use those stones to rebuild everything again? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+4&version=NIRV）
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接下來，他嘲笑他們所做的工作，問了四個嘲弄的問題，包括：他們能「從土堆裡拿出火燒的石頭再立牆嗎？」
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72. That must have made the Samaritan army break out into laughter.
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這一定使得撒瑪利亞軍隊笑出聲來。
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73. How could a remnant of feeble Jews hope to build a wall strong enough to protect the city from a mighty army?
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殘餘的猶太人如何能夠建造一道足以保護這座城市，能抵抗強大軍隊攻擊的城牆呢？
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74. “Will they offer sacrifices?”
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「他們要獻祭嗎？」
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75. Sanballat is saying that it will take more than prayer and worship to rebuild the city.
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桑巴拉特說，要重建這座城市，無法只靠禱告和禮拜儀式。
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76. “Will they finish in a day?” suggests that the workers had no idea how difficult the task was and would soon stop what they were doing.
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「要一日成功嗎？」暗示說工人們並不知道這個任務有多麼困難，並且很快就會停止他們正在進行的事情。
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77. “Can they bring these stones back to life?” indicates that their building materials were so old and damaged that they couldn’t possibly be used to make a strong wall.
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“他們能把這些石頭帶回來嗎？（要從土堆裡拿出火燒的石頭再立牆嗎？）”表示，他們的建築材料是如此古老和敗壞，他們不可能被用來建造一堵堅固的牆。
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78. In verse 3, it was Tobiah’s turn to ridicule the workers when he tried out a joke on them, “What they are building if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”
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在第3節中，輪到多比亞這位亞捫人嘲笑工人，他試著對他們開玩笑說：「他們能造出怎樣的牆呢？恐怕一隻狐狸都能踩倒它吧！」
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79. Archeological excavations on these walls revealed that they were nine feet thick.
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考古研究發現那些城牆有九尺厚。
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80. They would need more than a small fox to knock them down.
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證明若要撞倒那牆壁，他們需要動用的不只是一隻小狐狸而已。
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81. The workers became the punch line of every joke, and everyone got a laugh at their expense.
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工作人員成了每個笑話的要角，每個工人都為此付出了代價。
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82. Tobiah hoped that his sarcasm would make the builders cast an apprehensive glance at their hard work and activate within them an avalanche of discouragement.
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多比亞希望他的諷刺會使建設者們藐視他們的工作，並在他們內部激起一片灰心、沮喪的土石流。
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83. Friends, whenever you attempt to get involved in life and the work of God, you will always face ridicule.
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朋友們，只要你試圖涉入上帝的工作和生活，你總會遇到嘲笑。
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84. Expect it and don’t stop working.
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就以不停地工作來迎接那些嘲笑吧。
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85. 2. The second cause of their external discouragement was repression in verses 7 and 8.
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他們沮喪的第二個原因是第七和第八節所提到的外在的壓抑。
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86. The enemies have moved from being bothered by the Jews to being very angry.
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敵人已經從猶太人所引發的困擾轉變成非常憤怒。
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87. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
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他們一起策劃要攻打耶路撒冷，好引發一些麻煩事給耶路撒冷。
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88. Warren Wiersbe writes, “God’s people sometimes have difficulty working together, but the people of the world have no problem uniting in opposition to the work of the Lord.”
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沃倫·維爾斯比（Warren Wiersbe），這位寫出50本書以Be為書名的浸信會牧師寫說：「上帝的子民有時難以一起工作，但世界上的人們若要聯合起來反對主的工作不會有什麼困難。」https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_W._Wiersbe（Google translate 譯出相反的句子）沃倫·維爾斯比（Warren Wiersbe）寫道：“上帝的子民有時難以一起工作，但世界上的人們沒有聯合起來反對主的工作。
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89. The references in verse 7 are to the four points of the compass.
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第7節中所提到的正好包含了羅盤上的四個方位。
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90. Sanballat and the Samaritans on the north, Ashdod on the west, Tobiah and the Ammonites on the east, and Geshem and the Arabs to the south.
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北面有桑巴拉和撒瑪利亞人，西面是阿什杜德，東面是多比雅和亞捫人，南面是格西姆和阿拉伯人。
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91. The workers were surrounded and lived in constant fear of being ambushed.
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工人們被圍住，一直擔心會被伏擊。
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92. Internal Causes of Discouragement
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造成沮喪的內部原因
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93. Pressures from without often create problems within.
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94. Opposition outside the ranks can lead to depression on the inside.
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外邊的反對派可能會導致隊伍內部的壓抑跟鬱卒。
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95. It wasn’t the voice of the enemy that was the most pervasive; it was the voice of God’s own people.
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最強有影響力的聲音不見得是敵人的聲音， 反而是同樣站在上帝這邊的自己人的聲音。
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96. And, just like today, it’s so easy to internalize the words of the enemy and feel like giving up.
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而且，今天的時代也是一樣，很容易就會把敵人的話語記在心裡，讓自己覺得該放棄了。
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97. Notice the first part of verse 10: “Meanwhile the people in Judah said…”
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請注意第十節的第一部分：「猶大的居民有一首歌說：」
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98. Discouragement started first within the royal tribe of Judah.
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看起來灰心是從猶大王室內開始的。
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99. They had David’s blood in their veins and you would think they would have had more faith and courage than the rest of the people.
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由於他們的血管中有大衛的血統，你會認為他們比其他人有更多的信心和勇氣。
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100.They were looked upon as leaders and pacesetters.
|
他們被看作是領導人和領頭羊。
| ||||||||||||||||||
101.If the tribe of Judah was discouraged, then the other tribes would be more inclined to give up the project as well.
|
如果猶大支派灰心喪氣，其他支派也會跟著放棄那些事工了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
102.1. The first cause of internal discouragement was fatigue.
|
1. 內部沮喪的第一個原因是疲勞。
| ||||||||||||||||||
103. Verse 10 reads, “Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out…”
|
十節說：「同時，猶大的居民有一首歌說，工人的力氣越來越衰弱」
| ||||||||||||||||||
104. Simply put, the workers were tired.
|
簡單地說，就是工人們累壞了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
105. They were hitting it hard and needed some rest.
|
他們被操得很辛苦，需要一些休息。
| ||||||||||||||||||
106. The phrase “giving out” carries with it the idea of “staggering, tottering, and stumbling.”
|
“放棄”一詞帶有“蹣跚，搖搖欲墜，磕磕絆絆”的概念。
| ||||||||||||||||||
107. When you are physically drained, it is very easy to become discouraged at the slightest problem.
|
當你耗盡體力的時候，很容易因為任何小問題而灰心喪氣。
| ||||||||||||||||||
108. It’s also interesting to notice when the workers became fatigued and discouraged.
|
會注意到工人們疲憊又灰心，也很是一件有趣的現象。
| ||||||||||||||||||
109. Verse 6 says that the wall was built to half its height.
|
第6節說，這牆已經建立到預期的一半高度了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
110. Many times when we start a new project the first half goes quickly because we’re excited about accomplishing the goal.
|
很多時候，當我們開始一個新的事工時，會覺得上半場過得很快，因為我們對於完成這個目標很感興趣也很興奮。
| ||||||||||||||||||
111. But, when the newness wears off and the work becomes routine and boring, then it’s easy to become fatigued.
|
但是，當新先感消失，工作變成無聊的慣例時，就容易變得疲倦。
| ||||||||||||||||||
112. And when you’re tired it’s easy to become discouraged and to begin to think that you will never finish the job.
|
當你疲倦的時候，很容易灰心，開始認為你大概永遠完成不了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
113. Verse 10 says: “…we cannot rebuild the wall.” They were ready to stop working.
|
第十節說：「我們今天怎能修完城牆？」他們已經準備要停工了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
114. These are the same people who were described in verse 6 as those who worked with all their heart.
|
這些人跟第6節所描述為全心全意工作的人是同一批人。
| ||||||||||||||||||
115. If you’re feeling fatigued today, watch out.
|
如果你今天感到疲倦，就要小心了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
116. Tiredness can lead to discouragement.
|
疲勞可能會導致灰心。
| ||||||||||||||||||
117. Remember what God did when Elijah was tired he sent an angel to give him some bread and something to drink and then told him to go back to sleep.
|
記得上帝在以利亞疲憊的時候做了什麼，派了一位天使給他一些麵包和一些飲料，然後叫他回去睡覺。
| ||||||||||||||||||
118. You cannot burn the candle at both ends on a long-term basis.
|
你把一根蠟燭的兩端同時點燃燒的話，不可能燒很久。
| ||||||||||||||||||
119. Sometimes the most spiritual thing to do is to go to bed.
|
有時候最精神跟心靈最好的事情就是睡覺去。
| ||||||||||||||||||
120. 2. The second thing that can happen is that you can get frustrated.
|
第二件事是你可能會感到挫折、沮喪。
| ||||||||||||||||||
121. Verse 10 continues by saying that there is “so much rubble” that they cannot rebuild the wall.
|
第10節繼續說，「有那麼多的碎瓦要搬！」，使他們不可能重建城牆。
| ||||||||||||||||||
122. They became discouraged because they were so aggravated with the situation.
|
因為情況如此惡化、不利，他們變得灰心了。
| ||||||||||||||||||
123. I’m sure they were encountering old broken rocks, dirt and dried-out mortar, and other debris that was underfoot.
|
我確定他們遇到了老舊的破碎的岩石，泥土和乾燥的砂漿以及腳下的其他碎片。
| ||||||||||||||||||
124. This junk was everywhere and they were frustrated.
|
這垃圾無處不在，他們感到挫折、沮喪。
| ||||||||||||||||||
125. Just as they lost sight of their goal, so too we can lose sight of our goal when we have too much garbage in our lives.
|
就好像他們看不到自己的目標，我們也會因為看到生活裡的太多垃圾，而看不到自己的生命的目標。
| ||||||||||||||||||
126. Hebrews 12:1 challenges us to get rid of anything that causes us to be frustrated in our pursuit of godliness: “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us.”
|
希伯來書12：1挑戰我們要擺脫「任何使我們在追求敬虔的過程中受挫」的事情：「我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們，就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，」
| ||||||||||||||||||
127. I don’t know what the rubble is in your life but it may be anything: it might be a possession you’re holding on to, or even an unhealthy relationship.
|
我不知道你的生活中有什麼垃圾，但是什麼都有可能：它也許是你持有的財產，甚至是不健康的人際關係。
| ||||||||||||||||||
128. Is there a sin you’ve been playing around with too long?
|
有沒有哪一項罪行已經玩太久了？
| ||||||||||||||||||
129. Do you have a personal problem, or are you involved in some other kind of entanglement that is tripping you up?
|
你是不是有些個人事務上的難題，或者你曾經捲入其他一些絆手絆腳的行當？
| ||||||||||||||||||
130. Something you’ve been doing in secret that you think no one else knows about?
|
你是不是在暗中進行一些你認為沒有人知道的事情呢？
| ||||||||||||||||||
131. As the writer to Hebrews says, “Throw it off so you don’t get tripped up.”
|
正如希伯來書的作者所說地把它拋棄，以免被絆倒。
| ||||||||||||||||||
132. 3. Another cause of discouragement is fear.
|
另一個令人沮喪的原因是恐懼。
| ||||||||||||||||||
133. The enemies of the Lord’s work had struck fear in the hearts of God’s people and they felt like giving up.
|
跟上主在工作上作對的，會在上主的子民心中植入恐懼，使他們覺得需要放棄、脫離戰場。
| ||||||||||||||||||
134. Remember what they said in verse 10: “We cannot rebuild the wall.”
|
記住他們在第10節中所說的話：「我們今天怎能修完城牆？」
| ||||||||||||||||||
135. Did you notice in verse 12 who gets afraid the quickest?
|
你有沒有註意到第12節提到誰最快感到害怕？
| ||||||||||||||||||
136. “Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us.’”
|
「可是，住在敵人當中的猶太人已經一次又一次地來警告我們、敵人要攻擊我們的陰謀。」
| ||||||||||||||||||
137. Those most affected by fear are those who lived near pessimistic people.
|
受恐懼影響最嚴重的是那些生活中跟「悲觀的人們」接近的人。
| ||||||||||||||||||
138. If you want to limit the depressing thoughts that bring fear into your life, then it’s best to not hang around with negative people.
|
如果你想限制那些「會在生活中帶來恐懼的壓抑」的想法，那麼最好不要與消極的人鬼混。
| ||||||||||||||||||
139. It’s like the old saying, “If you’re going to soar with the eagles, you can’t run around with turkeys.”
|
就像那句老話，說：「想要跟老鷹一般地翱翔的話，你就不可以只跟著火雞跑來跑去。」
| ||||||||||||||||||
140. Fear puts us in a frame of mind where we cannot only become discouraged, we can also be deceived.
|
恐懼使我們陷入一種心態，我們不僅會灰心喪志，還會被欺騙。
| ||||||||||||||||||
141. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but since most of you have already read the book of Nehemiah, I’m going to give it away: the enemies never do attack Jerusalem!
|
我本不想破壞這個結局，但是畢竟你們大多數人都已經讀過尼希米記，所以我要把真相掀開來，就是說：敵人從來不曾攻擊耶路撒冷！
| ||||||||||||||||||
142. In the book, Scared to Life, Douglas Rumford cites a study that shows why we shouldn’t let fear rule our lives.
|
在「害怕生命」一書中，道格拉斯·拉姆福德（Douglas Rumford）引用了一項「表明為什麼我們不應該讓恐懼統治我們的生活」的研究。
| ||||||||||||||||||
143. 60% of our fears are totally unfounded
|
我們擔心的事項裡面的60％完全沒有根據
| ||||||||||||||||||
144. 20% are already behind us
|
20％已經在過去了
| ||||||||||||||||||
145. 10% are so petty they don’t make any difference
|
10％是如此的微不足道，他們不會造成任何不同的後果
| ||||||||||||||||||
146. 5% are real, but we can’t do anything about them
|
5％是真實的，但我們無法對此採取任何行動
| ||||||||||||||||||
147. 5% are real, and we can do something about them
|
5％是真實的，而且是我們可以動手干預的
| ||||||||||||||||||
148. The Cures for Discouragement
|
治療「灰心」的方法
| ||||||||||||||||||
149. Now we know some of the causes of discouragement can lead to fatigue, frustration, and fear.
|
現在我們知道有一些灰心喪氣的原因會導致疲勞、挫折、和恐懼。
| ||||||||||||||||||
150. Let me tell you definitively that discouragement is a curable disease.
|
讓我明確地告訴你，沮喪是一種可治癒的疾病。
| ||||||||||||||||||
151. This is good news you don’t have to live with a chronic condition anymore!
|
這是一個好消息，你不必再忍受沮喪這種慢性病了！
| ||||||||||||||||||
152. Let’s look briefly at some potential cures for discouragement.
|
我們來簡單看看一些可能有效的治療方法。
| ||||||||||||||||||
153. 1. The first cure is to request God’s help.
|
1.第一個治療方法是要求上帝的幫助。
| ||||||||||||||||||
154. Nehemiah requested God’s help in Chapter One for Jerusalem.
|
尼希米為了耶路撒冷在第一章要求上帝幫助。
| ||||||||||||||||||
155. In Chapter Two, he prayed while he was in the presence of the king.
|
在第二章裡，他在國王面前禱告。
| ||||||||||||||||||
156. Now, in Chapter Four, he prays two different times.
|
現在，在第四章，他在不同的時間，禱告兩次。
| ||||||||||||||||||
157. He looked up before launching out, he prayed before proceeding.
|
他在出發之前抬起頭來，在繼續之前他又禱告。
| ||||||||||||||||||
158. Take a look at his first prayer in verses 4-5: “Hear us, O God, for we are despised.
|
看一下他在4-5節中的第一次祈禱：「主啊，請聽我們的祈求，因為他們侮辱了我們這些正在修建的人」。
| ||||||||||||||||||
159. Turn their insults back on their own heads.
|
「叫他們的譏笑落在他們自己的頭上吧！」
| ||||||||||||||||||
160. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
|
「在被擄的地方掠奪他們。讓他們的財物都被搶走」
| ||||||||||||||||||
161. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.”
|
「求你不要赦免他們所做的壞事，不要忘了他們的罪惡，因為他們侮辱了我們這些正在修建的人」“
| ||||||||||||||||||
162. He didn’t give lectures to the workers, organize raiding parties against the enemies, or create propaganda campaigns to put a different spin on things.
|
他沒有向工人講課，組織特攻隊去突擊敵人，或者展開反宣傳活動，使事情改觀。
| ||||||||||||||||||
163. (Sounds like our political parties today).
|
（聽起來就像我們今天的政黨）。
| ||||||||||||||||||
164. Here’s the principle we can learn from Nehemiah: When people talk against you, do something positive.
|
以下是我們可以從尼希米學習的原則：當人們對你說壞話時，作一些積極的事情。
| ||||||||||||||||||
165. Verse 9 tells us that they prayed to God and posted a guard.
|
第9節告訴我們，他們向上帝祈禱，並張貼了一名警告。
| ||||||||||||||||||
166. When their enemies started talking, Nehemiah continued to pray, and the people continued to work.
|
當他們的敵人開始講話時，尼希米繼續禱告，人們繼續工作。
| ||||||||||||||||||
167. 2. The second cure is to reorganize your priorities.
|
第二種治療方法是重新排列你的優先事項。
| ||||||||||||||||||
168. In verse 13 Nehemiah said, “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest point of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.”
|
尼希米記第四章，第十三節說：「所以，我叫民眾武裝起來，佩帶刀矛弓箭，以宗族為單位，分派他們守在還沒修完的城牆後面的低窪處。」
| ||||||||||||||||||
169. Nehemiah had already organized the people in Chapter 3 and they had finished half of their task.
|
尼希米在第三章已經組織了人民，而且他們已經完成了一半的任務。
| ||||||||||||||||||
170. Now, however, a new situation had come about that required a change in organization.
|
然而，現在出現了一種新的情況，需要把組織改變一下。
| ||||||||||||||||||
171. If the enemies were going to attack they would most likely do so at the weakest places.
|
敵人如果要攻擊，很可能會在守方最薄弱的地方這開始進行。
| ||||||||||||||||||
172. So Nehemiah put guards at all the vulnerable spots.
|
所以尼希米在所有的弱點上都派人守護著。
| ||||||||||||||||||
173. This served two purposes it discouraged the enemy and it encouraged the people because it dealt with their fear.
|
這會發揮兩個作用，一方面它會阻止了敵人，同時它會鼓勵人民，因為這個措施處理了大家的恐懼。
| ||||||||||||||||||
174. When we’re discouraged, one of the things we can do is to reorganize our priorities.
|
當我們氣餒的時候，我們能作的事情之一就是重新組織我們的優先事項。
| ||||||||||||||||||
175. You can look at your life.
|
你可以看看你的生活。
| ||||||||||||||||||
176. You can adopt a change in approach instead of becoming so discouraged that you quit.
|
你可以採擇改變，而不是讓自己變得灰心到只能退出。
| ||||||||||||||||||
177. Do you have a problem in your job?
|
你的職務上有出現問題嗎？
| ||||||||||||||||||
178. Don’t give up!
|
不要放棄！
| ||||||||||||||||||
179. Change your priorities.
|
調整你的優先事項。
| ||||||||||||||||||
180. Do you have a problem in your walk with God?
|
你跟上帝一起走有困難嗎？
| ||||||||||||||||||
181. Don’t stop searching!
|
不要停止搜尋！
| ||||||||||||||||||
182. Meet with Him on a regular basis.
|
定期與祂會面吧。
| ||||||||||||||||||
183. Don’t be overcome by discouragement.
|
不要被灰心壓垮。
| ||||||||||||||||||
184. Do something about it!
|
作點什麼事情吧！採取什麼措施吧！
| ||||||||||||||||||
185. In verse 16 the workers reorganized again by dividing responsibilities half worked and the other half kept watch.
|
在第十六節，工人們重新分工，用一半精神進行工事，另一半監視著敵人動靜。
| ||||||||||||||||||
186. Those who worked used one hand for pushing the wheelbarrow, and with the other hand, they carried a weapon.
|
工作人員用一隻手推車子，另一隻手拿著武器。
| ||||||||||||||||||
187. And, they worked together as a team.
|
而且，他們以團隊為單位多人一起工作。
| ||||||||||||||||||
188. 3. If you want to defeat discouragement, the third thing you can do is to remember who God is.
|
想要打敗灰心的話，你可以作的第三件事就是記「住上主是誰」。
| ||||||||||||||||||
189. After looking everything over and sensing the discouragement within his team, Nehemiah rallied his troops in verse 14: “…Don’t be afraid of them.
|
在看完所有的東西之後，他感覺到隊內的沮喪，尼希米在十四節把他的軍隊召集起來：「......不要怕他們。
| ||||||||||||||||||
190. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…”
|
要記住上主是至大可畏的。」
| ||||||||||||||||||
191. Nehemiah knew, even in the face of opposition, that the success of the wall was wholly dependent upon God who inspired its beginning.
|
即使面對群眾的反對，尼希米也知道，建築城牆的成功與否完全在於起初啟發開始建造城牆的上主。
| ||||||||||||||||||
192. Verse 10 was true: the people could not rebuild the wall on their own.
|
第10節是真實的：那些人們不可能自己重建城牆。
| ||||||||||||||||||
193. They needed to remember God and what He had promised.
|
他們需要記住上主和祂所許諾的。
| ||||||||||||||||||
194. I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to forget God when things are tough.
|
我不知道你會怎樣，但當事情艱難的時後，我會很容易就忘記上主。
| ||||||||||||||||||
195. I need to be reminded that He is always there for me.
|
我需要被提醒說，他永遠為了我而待在我身邊。
| ||||||||||||||||||
196. How do you remember the Lord?
|
你怎麼記得主呢？
| ||||||||||||||||||
197. By remembering that He will always be there for you.
|
透過記住祂永遠在你身邊。
| ||||||||||||||||||
198. We’re to remember that He is great and awesome.
|
我們要記住，他是是至大可畏的。
| ||||||||||||||||||
199. God is more than able to deal with your discouragement.
|
上帝的能力來處理你的灰心，是綽綽有餘的。
| ||||||||||||||||||
200. So, when you’re down, turn your attention from your discouragement to the One who is able to do something about it.
|
所以，當你失望無力的時候，把你的注意力從沮喪中轉移到能有作為者的身上。
| ||||||||||||||||||
201. God has been faithful to you in the past.
|
上帝在過去對你是忠實的。
| ||||||||||||||||||
202. He is faithful to you today.
|
他今天對你是忠誠可靠的。
| ||||||||||||||||||
203. And He has promised to be faithful to you in the future.
|
祂承諾會在未來也會對你誠守信諾，是可信賴的。
| ||||||||||||||||||
204. Remember the Lord.
|
記住我們的主。
| ||||||||||||||||||
205. Remember His promises.
|
記住祂的承諾。
| ||||||||||||||||||
206. Remember His goodness.
|
記住祂的善良。
| ||||||||||||||||||
207. Remember His power.
|
記住祂的力量。
| ||||||||||||||||||
208. Our God is great and awesome!
|
我們的上帝是偉大的，真棒的！
| ||||||||||||||||||
209. Remember Him.
|
記住祂。
| ||||||||||||||||||
210. The people complained about all the rubble in verse 10.
|
人們抱怨第10節裡面所提到的大堆的破專殘瓦。
| ||||||||||||||||||
211. Question.
|
有什麼問題呢？
| ||||||||||||||||||
212. Wasn’t the rubble there in the beginning?
|
那些垃圾不是一開始就在裡的嗎？
| ||||||||||||||||||
213. Of course it was.
|
當然是。
| ||||||||||||||||||
214. The difference was that when they started the project they were focused on God and His character.
|
不同的是，當他們剛開始這工程時，他們把注意力集中在上帝和祂的特質上。
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215. Now, they had become rubble-gazers.
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現在，他們變了廢墟觀察者。
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216. Friend, if you focus on all the junk in your life, and in the lives of others, you will become discouraged.
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朋友，如果你專注於你生活中的所有垃圾，以及別人的生活，你將會灰心喪氣。
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217. Let’s determine to be God-gazers instead of rubble-gazers.
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讓我們決定是要當「注目上帝者」而不是「只看垃圾者」。
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218. Our Security Net
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我們的安全網
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219. At the time it was completed in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
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金門大橋在1937年剛剛建造完成的時候是世界上最長的吊橋。
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220. During the first phase of the project 23 men fell to their deaths in the icy water.
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在工程的第一階段裡，有23名男性工人掉落在冰冷的水中死亡。
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221. Things were going from bad to worse because there were very few safety devices.
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情況持續惡化，因為安全設備非常少。
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222. And so, when it was halfway completed, they decided to take another look and make some changes.
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所以，當工程進行到一半的時候，他們決定再檢討一下，以便作一些改變。
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223. Do you know what they did?
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你知道他們作了什麼嗎？
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224. They reorganized and built the largest net ever made, and attached it under the area where the men were working.
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他們重新建造了有史以來最大的網，並將那網固定在那些工人作業區的下邊。
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225. Was it worth the cost and the time it took to do this?
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值得花錢跟時間去製作並掛上那些網嗎？
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226. Ask the ten men who fell into it without being injured!
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找十個曾經跌在那網裡而沒有受傷的人問問看！
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227. Not only did it save those ten lives, I read that the work was completed in three-fourths the time because the workers no longer lived in fear of falling.
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不僅拯救了這十條生命，而且我讀到這項工作是在四分之三的時間內完成了，因為工人們不再生活在害怕跌倒的恐懼裡了
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228. Friends, God’s great net of security spans this globe.
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朋友們，上主的安全網絡遍佈全球。
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229. No matter where we live.
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不管我們住在哪裡
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230. No matter what we’ve done.
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不管我們已經作了什麼事情。
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231. No matter how discouraged we’ve been.
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不管我們曾經多麼灰心，
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232. He’s stretched out His everlasting arms beneath us.
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他伸出他永恆的手臂撐在在我們下面。
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233. As a result, we can live and work freely and without fear, knowing that we are protected, safe and secure.
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因此，我們知道我們是受保護的，安全的，可以自由而安心地生活和工作。
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234. Discouragement can be defeated as we request His help, reorganize our priorities, and remember who He is.
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當我們要求祂的幫助，重新組織我們的優先事項，並記住祂是誰時，灰心就會被打敗。
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235. When you think about it, most of us are just in progress in our Christian lives.
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當你思考這些的時候，記得我們大部分人都剛剛開始進入基督徒生活中。
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236. We’re well aware of the rubble and the mess.
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我們很清楚那些雜亂成堆的建築廢棄物。
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237. And, like the wall workers, it’s so easy to get discouraged and not remember the Lord who is great and awesome.
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而且，像牆上的工人一樣，很容易灰心喪氣，不記得那位偉大而奇妙的主。
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238. Jesus knows that we have a built in capacity to forget and that many of us default to discouragement.
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耶穌知道我們生來就具有「忘記事情」的本能，而且，我們有中的許多人會自動回歸到灰心的狀態。
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239. Let us always remember what we do have: We have Christ and each other.
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讓我們好好記住我們確定有的，「我們有基督，還有我們彼此的相陪伴。」
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240. (Let us pray)
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讓我們一起來禱告
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尼希米勝過阻撓他工作的人
1. 參巴拉聽見我們猶太人已經開始重建城牆，就非常生氣，並且嘲笑我們。
2. 2 他在同僚和撒馬利亞軍隊面前說：「這些虛弱的猶太人在做甚麼呢？他們想要重新建造這城嗎？他們以為藉獻祭就能在一天之內完工嗎？他們竟想從燒的碎瓦堆中找石塊來建造呢！」
3. 3 亞捫人多比雅站在他旁邊，也附和說：「他們能造出怎樣的牆呢？恐怕一隻狐狸都能踩倒它吧！」
4. 4:4 我禱告說：「我們的上帝啊，聽他們在譏笑我們！叫他們的譏笑落在他們自己的頭上吧！讓他們的財物都被搶走；讓他們像囚犯一樣被擄到外國去。
5. 4:5 求你不要赦免他們所做的壞事，不要忘了他們的罪惡，因為他們侮辱了我們這些正在修建的人。」
6. 4:6 於是我們繼續重建城牆，不久就建到一半高度了，因為人民都熱心工作。
7. 4:7 參巴拉和多比雅，以及阿拉伯、亞捫、亞實突的居民聽到我們重建耶路撒冷城牆的工作進行得很快，並且城牆的缺口都修補好了，就非常氣憤。
8. 4:8 他們一同陰謀，要來攻擊耶路撒冷，製造混亂。
9. 4:9 但是我們向我們的上帝禱告，並且派人日夜守衛，防備他們。
10. 4:10 猶大的居民有一首歌說： 工人的力氣越來越衰弱； 有那麼多的碎瓦要搬！ 我們今天怎能修完城牆？
11. 4:11 我們的敵人以為我們看不到他們，不會知道發生了甚麼事，要等他們到了這裏、殺害我們、阻止我們工作的時候，我們才知道。
12. 4:12 可是，住在敵人當中的猶太人已經一次又一次地來警告我們、敵人要攻擊我們的陰謀。
13. 4:13 所以，我叫民眾武裝起來，佩帶刀矛弓箭，以宗族為單位，分派他們守在還沒修完的城牆後面的低窪處。
14. 4:14 我巡視後，就對民眾和他們的首領、官長說：「不要怕敵人！要記住主是至大可畏的。要為你們的同胞、你們的妻子、你們的兒女，和你們的家園爭戰。」
15. 4:15 我們的敵人聽見我們已經知道他們的陰謀，就明白上帝已經挫敗了他們的計謀。於是我們大家又回到原來的崗位，繼續重建城牆。
16. 4:16 從那時候起，我手下有一半的人工作；一半的人站著看守，拿著刀矛、盾牌、弓箭，穿著盔甲。首領們全力支持
17. 4:17 在建造城牆的人。甚至搬運建築材料的人也一隻手工作，一隻手拿著武器。
18. 4:18 每一個工作的人腰間也都佩著刀。吹緊急軍號的人站在我身旁。
19. 4:19 我對民眾和他們的官長和首領們說：「這工程浩大，分散很廣，我們每個人在城牆上也相隔很遠。
20. 4:20 你們一聽到軍號響，要馬上集合到我這裏來。我們的上帝一定會為我們爭戰。」
21. 4:21 因此，每天從黎明到晚上星星出現，我們有一半的人在城牆上工作，一半的人拿著武器負責守衛。
22. 4:22 這段時期，我告訴所有單位主管和他們的助手，晚上必須留宿在耶路撒冷；這樣，我們才能在夜間看守這城，白天工作。
23. 4:23 我甚至晚上都沒有脫衣服；我的同伴、僕人，和衛兵也沒有一個人脫衣服。我們都把武器握在手中。
