We can never praise Jesus too much!

赞美耶稣，永不嫌多！

The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. Nehemiah 12:43

耶路撒冷欢乐的声音在老远的地方都可以听见。-尼希米记12章43节，新译本

Walt Disney Studios was the first to introduce a new concept in listening to movies. It was called “stereophonic sound” or surround sound, and it was developed because producers wanted the movie-going audience to hear the music in a new way.

华特迪士尼工作室是最先在电影中使用新的电影音响技术，我们称之为“身历声”或“环绕声”。制片者引进这项技术，是希望观众能以新的方式欣赏电影音乐。

But this wasn’t the first use of “surround sound.” Thousands of years earlier, Nehemiah introduced the idea at the dedication of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem. “I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall,” he explained. “I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks” (Neh. 12:31). The two choirs began at the southern part of the wall, at the Dung Gate. One went to the left, one went to the right, and they surrounded the city of Jerusalem in praise as they marched toward the temple (vv. 31, 37–40).

但这并不是人类首次使用“环绕声”。数千年前，尼希米在耶路撒冷城墙重建的奉献典礼上，就已有了这概念。尼希米说：“我带犹大的首领上城，使称谢的人分为两大队，排列而行”（尼希米记12章31节）。这两个队伍从城墙南边的粪厂门出发，一队向左、一队往右，环绕着耶路撒冷城赞美歌颂上帝，朝圣殿前进（31、37-40节）。

The choirs led the people in rejoicing because “God had given them great joy” (v. 43). In fact, their rejoicing “could be heard far away” (v. 43).

颂赞的队伍带领百姓欢庆，“因为上帝使他们大大欢乐”，欢乐的声音甚至传到远处（43节）。

Their praise resulted from God’s help as the people overcame the opposition of enemies like Sanballat and rebuilt the wall. What has God given us that causes our joy to overflow into praise? God’s clear direction in our lives? The comfort He alone can provide in times of trouble? Or our ultimate gift: salvation?

以色列百姓歌颂赞美上帝，因为上帝帮助他们胜过参巴拉一帮敌人的反对，得以重新建造城墙。上帝曾赐给我们什么恩典，使我们由衷地赞美祂呢？是上帝对我们人生指引清楚的方向？是在困难中得着祂的安慰？或是救恩这最大的恩典？

Perhaps we can’t create “surround sound” with our praise, but we can rejoice in the joy God has given us. Then others can hear us praise God and see how He works. 

也许我们的赞美无法制造“环绕声”的效果，但是我们可以欢喜领受上帝给我们的喜乐，让其他人听到我们颂扬上帝，并看见祂如何在我们的生命中动工。    

We praise You, O Lord—with words, 

with song, and with our lives. 

We offer You our hearts in response to

 Your great power, loving provision, 

and constant care.

主啊，我们以言语、

诗歌与生命赞美祢。

因祢的大能、爱的供应，

以及保守看顾，

我们愿意全心献上。

Nehemiah 12:27-43New International Version (NIV)

Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instrumentsprescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of[c] the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

尼希米记 12:27-43Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

为邑垣行告成礼

27 耶路撒冷城墙告成的时候，众民就把各处的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要称谢、歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴，欢欢喜喜地行告成之礼。 28 歌唱的人从耶路撒冷的周围和尼陀法的村庄与伯吉甲， 29 又从迦巴和押玛弗的田地聚集，因为歌唱的人在耶路撒冷四围为自己立了村庄。 30 祭司和利未人就洁净自己，也洁净百姓和城门并城墙。

31 我带犹大的首领上城，使称谢的人分为两大队，排列而行。第一队在城上往右边向粪厂门行走。 32 在他们后头的有何沙雅与犹大首领的一半； 33 又有亚撒利雅、以斯拉、米书兰、 34 犹大、便雅悯、示玛雅、耶利米； 35 还有些吹号之祭司的子孙约拿单的儿子撒迦利亚，约拿单是示玛雅的儿子，示玛雅是玛他尼的儿子，玛他尼是米该亚的儿子，米该亚是撒刻的儿子，撒刻是亚萨的儿子； 36 又有撒迦利亚的弟兄示玛雅、亚撒利、米拉莱、基拉莱、玛艾、拿坦业、犹大、哈拿尼，都拿着神人大卫的乐器。文士以斯拉引领他们。 37 他们经过泉门往前，从大卫城的台阶随地势而上，在大卫宫殿以上，直行到朝东的水门。

38 第二队称谢的人要与那一队相迎而行。我和民的一半跟随他们，在城墙上过了炉楼，直到宽墙， 39 又过了以法莲门、古门、鱼门、哈楠业楼、哈米亚楼，直到羊门，就在护卫门站住。 40 于是，这两队称谢的人，连我和官长的一半，站在神的殿里。 41 还有祭司以利亚金、玛西雅、米拿民、米该雅、以利约乃、撒迦利亚、哈楠尼亚吹号。 42 又有玛西雅、示玛雅、以利亚撒、乌西、约哈难、玛基雅、以拦和以谢奏乐。歌唱的就大声歌唱，伊斯拉希雅管理他们。 43 那日，众人献大祭而欢乐，因为神使他们大大欢乐，连妇女带孩童也都欢乐，甚至耶路撒冷中的欢声听到远处.

 整理：于姊妹