When I was growing up, the idea that “God is watching you” was not always an encouraging reminder. Particularly if I was doing something I did not want him to see.

在我長大的過程中，「上帝正在關注你」的想法並不總是一個令人鼓舞的提醒，特別是如果我正在做一些不希望讓祂看到的事情。

It always had the sense of impending punishment. But there is another sense that that phrase, that idea, is used.

總有一種即將面對懲罰的感覺，但這句短語卻有另一層意義。

In the book of Nehemiah, the titular figure spends its thirteen chapters trying to fix what is wrong in the city of Jerusalem. Sometimes these were physical fixes, like rebuilding a wall. Often it was spiritual and social, either by calling the people to repentance or rooting out corruption.

在《尼希米記》中，這位領袖花了十三章的時間試圖解決耶路撒冷城的問題，包含物質上的修復，例如重建一道牆；更多的是指靈性和社會性的層面，通過呼籲人們悔改，以根除腐敗。

Needless to say, not everyone is thankful for that kind of instruction. Often in his record, Nehemiah voices his frustration with the thankless job he does.

當然，並不是每個人都欣然接受這種引導，尼希米經常在他的記錄中表達他對自己做吃力不討好的工作感到沮喪。

Working in education, we all might recognize that feeling! How many times have I cried out after a class, “remember me, o God, for good!”

從事教育工作的我們對這種感覺應該很熟悉！有多少次在下課後，我在心中大喊：“上帝啊，記念我，施恩給我.”

And that is where the idea that God sees and God knows becomes a source of immense encouragement. Nehemiah prayed that way because he knew the people would not be thankful, so he turned to God.

這時「上帝看見、上帝知道」的想法即成為源源不絕的鼓勵，尼希米這樣禱告，是因為他知道人們不會感恩他的所行，所以他定睛在上帝。

The things we do, big and small, to bless and care for those around us, the ways we contribute to the welfare of our families and communities, they may be forgot, they may never be seen by those around us. But they will never be forgotten by God.

我們所有的付出，無論多寡，是為了祝福和關心我們周圍的人，為家庭和社群的福祉貢獻，這些付出可能會被遺忘，也可能永遠不會被周圍的人看見，但是上帝永遠不會忘記。

So let us keep the prayer of Nehemiah close to our hearts: “remember me, o God, for good!”

因此，讓我們牢記尼希米的禱告：“上帝啊，記念我，施恩給我.”