Nehemiah

Chapter 2

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ׀ bּecho֣deshsh niysa֗n shshena֥t 'eshseri֛ym le'aretּacheshsha֥setּe hamּe֖leke ya֣yin lepana֑yv va'eshsּa֤ 'et-hayּa֨yin֙ va'etּena֣h lamּe֔leke velo'-hayi֥ytiy ra֖ lepanaֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before,

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ נִיסָ֗ן שְׁנַ֥ת עֶשְׂרִ֛ים לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יַ֣יִן לְפָנָ֑יו וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶת־הַיַּ֨יִן֙ וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְלֹא־הָיִ֥יתִי רַ֖ע לְפָנָֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֩ li֨y hamּe֜leke madּ֣u'a ׀ pּane֣yka ra'i֗ym ve'atּah֙ 'eֽyneka֣ chole֔h 'e֣yn ze֔h kּiy-'i֖m ro֣'aֽ le֑b va'iyra֖ harebּe֥h me'oֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid,

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ לִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מַדּ֣וּעַ ׀ פָּנֶ֣יךָ רָעִ֗ים וְאַתָּה֙ אֵֽינְךָ֣ חוֹלֶ֔ה אֵ֣ין זֶ֔ה כִּי־אִ֖ם רֹ֣עַֽ לֵ֑ב וָאִירָ֖א הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'oma֣r lamּe֔leke hamּe֖leke le'ola֣m yicheye֑h madּ֜u'a lo'-yere'֣u pana֗y 'ashshe֨r ha'i֜yr bּeyt-qiber֤ot 'abotay֙ chareba֔h ushshe'are֖yha 'ukּel֥u ba'eֽshsh׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"

וָאֹמַ֣ר לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִחְיֶ֑ה מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־יֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָעִ֜יר בֵּית־קִבְר֤וֹת אֲבֹתַי֙ חֲרֵבָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֤'mer liy֙ hamּe֔leke 'al-mah-zּe֖h 'atּa֣h mebaqּe֑shsh vaֽ'etepּalּe֔l 'el-'elohe֖y hashshּamaֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לִי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַל־מַה־זֶּ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'oma֣r lamּe֔leke 'im-'al-hamּe֣leke t֔ob ve'im-yiyta֥b 'abedּeka֖ lepane֑yka 'ashshe֧r tּishshelache֣niy 'el-yehuda֗h 'el-'i֛yr qiber֥ot 'abota֖y ve'ebeneֽnּah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it."

וָאֹמַ֣ר לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב וְאִם־יִיטַ֥ב עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְפָנֶ֑יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר תִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִי אֶל־יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶל־עִ֛יר קִבְר֥וֹת אֲבֹתַ֖י וְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֩ li֨y hamּe֜leke vehashshּega֣l ׀ yoshshe֣bet 'etzel֗o 'ad-mata֛y yiheye֥h maֽhalakaka֖ umata֣y tּashsh֑ub vayּiyta֤b lipeneֽy-hamּe֨leke֙ vayּishshelache֔niy vaֽ'etּena֥h l֖o zemaֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ לִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל ׀ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת אֶצְל֗וֹ עַד־מָתַ֛י יִהְיֶ֥ה מַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ וּמָתַ֣י תָּשׁ֑וּב וַיִּיטַ֤ב לִפְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִי וָֽאֶתְּנָ֥ה ל֖וֹ זְמָֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'omar֮ lamּeleke֒ 'im-'al-hamּe֣leke t֔ob 'igּerot֙ yitּenu-li֔y 'aֽl-pּachav֖ot 'e֣ber hanּaha֑r 'ashsher֙ ya'abiyr֔uniy 'a֥d 'ashsher-'ab֖o 'el-yehudaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah?

וָאוֹמַר֮ לַמֶּלֶךְ֒ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב אִגְּרוֹת֙ יִתְּנוּ־לִ֔י עַֽל־פַּחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר אֲשֶׁר֙ יַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־אָב֖וֹא אֶל־יְהוּדָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'igּe֡ret 'el-'asap֩ shshome֨r hapּaredּe֜s 'ashshe֣r lamּe֗leke 'ashshe֣r yitּen-li֣y 'etzi֡ym le֠qarot 'et-shsha'are֨y habּiyra֤h 'ashsher-labּa֨yit֙ ulechoma֣t ha'i֔yr velabּa֖yit 'ashsher-'ab֣o 'ela֑yv vayּitּen-li֣y hamּe֔leke kּeyad-'eloha֖y hatּoba֥h 'alaֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.

וְאִגֶּ֡רֶת אֶל־אָסָף֩ שֹׁמֵ֨ר הַפַּרְדֵּ֜ס אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִתֶּן־לִ֣י עֵצִ֡ים לְ֠קָרוֹת אֶת־שַׁעֲרֵ֨י הַבִּירָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־לַבַּ֨יִת֙ וּלְחוֹמַ֣ת הָעִ֔יר וְלַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁר־אָב֣וֹא אֵלָ֑יו וַיִּתֶּן־לִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהַ֖י הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽ'ab֗o 'eֽl-pּaֽchavot֙ 'e֣ber hanּaha֔r va'etּena֣h lahe֔m 'e֖t 'igּer֣ot hamּe֑leke vayּishshela֤ch 'imּiy֙ hamּe֔leke shsa֥rey cha֖yil uparashshiֽym׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

וָֽאָב֗וֹא אֶֽל־פַּֽחֲווֹת֙ עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אִגְּר֣וֹת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח עִמִּי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׂ֥רֵי חַ֖יִל וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֞ sanebalּa֣t hachoroni֗y vetֽobiyּah֙ ha'e֣bed haֽ'amּoni֔y vayּe֥ra lahe֖m ra'a֣h gedola֑h 'ashsher-bּa֥ 'ada֔m lebaqּe֥shsh toba֖h libene֥y yishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע סַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֗י וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמֹּנִ֔י וַיֵּ֥רַע לָהֶ֖ם רָעָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א אָדָ֔ם לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ טוֹבָ֖ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ab֖o 'el-yerushshala֑im va'ehiy-shsha֖m yami֥ym shsheloshshaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days

וָאָב֖וֹא אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וָאֱהִי־שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'aq֣um ׀ la֗yelah 'aniy֮ va'anashshi֣ym ׀ me'at֮ 'imּiy֒ velo'-higּa֣detּiy le'ada֔m ma֗h 'elohay֙ note֣n 'el-libּi֔y la'ashs֖ot liyrushshala֑im ubehemah֙ 'e֣yn 'imּi֔y kּi֚y 'im-habּehema֔h 'ashshe֥r 'ani֖y roke֥b bּaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding.

וָאָק֣וּם ׀ לַ֗יְלָה אֲנִי֮ וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים ׀ מְעַט֮ עִמִּי֒ וְלֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתִּי לְאָדָ֔ם מָ֗ה אֱלֹהַי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־לִבִּ֔י לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת לִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וּבְהֵמָה֙ אֵ֣ין עִמִּ֔י כִּ֚י אִם־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י רֹכֵ֥ב בָּֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'etze'a֨h beshshaֽ'ar-hagּa֜y la֗yelah ve'el-pּeney֙ 'e֣yn hatּanּi֔yn ve'el-shsha֖'ar ha'ashshepּo֑t va'ehi֨y shsobe֜r bּechomo֤t yerushshalai֨m֙ 'ashsher-hmprvtzym he֣m ׀ pּerutzi֔ym ushshe'are֖yha 'ukּel֥u ba'eֽshsh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.

וָאֵצְאָ֨ה בְשַֽׁעַר־הַגַּ֜יא לַ֗יְלָה וְאֶל־פְּנֵי֙ עֵ֣ין הַתַּנִּ֔ין וְאֶל־שַׁ֖עַר הָאַשְׁפֹּ֑ת וָאֱהִ֨י שֹׂבֵ֜ר בְּחוֹמֹ֤ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ אֲשֶׁר־המפרוצים הֵ֣ם ׀ פְּרוּצִ֔ים וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'eֽ'ebor֙ 'el-shsha֣'ar ha'a֔yin ve'el-bּereka֖t hamּe֑leke ve'eyn-maq֥om labּehema֖h la'abo֥r tּachetּaֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through;

וָאֶֽעֱבֹר֙ אֶל־שַׁ֣עַר הָעַ֔יִן וְאֶל־בְּרֵכַ֖ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאֵין־מָק֥וֹם לַבְּהֵמָ֖ה לַעֲבֹ֥ר תַּחְתָּֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ehi֨y 'ole֤h banּa֨chal֙ la֔yelah va'ehi֥y shsobe֖r bּachoma֑h va'ashsh֗ub va'ab֛o bּeshsha֥'ar hagּa֖ye va'ashshֽub׃

Edified Edition (EDE)so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally I turned back and re-entered through the Valley Gate.

וָאֱהִ֨י עֹלֶ֤ה בַנַּ֨חַל֙ לַ֔יְלָה וָאֱהִ֥י שֹׂבֵ֖ר בַּחוֹמָ֑ה וָאָשׁ֗וּב וָאָב֛וֹא בְּשַׁ֥עַר הַגַּ֖יְא וָאָשֽׁוּב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehasּegani֗ym lo֤ yade'u֙ 'a֣nah hala֔ketּiy uma֖h 'ani֣y 'oshse֑h velayּehudi֨ym velakּohani֜ym velachori֣ym velasּegani֗ym uleye֨ter֙ 'oshse֣h hamּela'ka֔h 'ad-kּe֖n lo֥ higּaֽdetּiy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

וְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים לֹ֤א יָדְעוּ֙ אָ֣נָה הָלַ֔כְתִּי וּמָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֑ה וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְלַחֹרִ֣ים וְלַסְּגָנִ֗ים וּלְיֶ֨תֶר֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה עַד־כֵּ֖ן לֹ֥א הִגַּֽדְתִּי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'oma֣r 'alehe֗m 'atּe֤m ro'iym֙ hara'ah֙ 'ashshe֣r 'ana֣chenu ba֔hּ 'ashshe֤r yerushshalai֨m֙ chareba֔h ushshe'are֖yha nitzּet֣u ba'e֑shsh lek֗u venibeneh֙ 'et-choma֣t yerushshalai֔m velo'-niheye֥h '֖od cherepּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."

וָאוֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אַתֶּ֤ם רֹאִים֙ הָרָעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנַ֣חְנוּ בָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ חֲרֵבָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ נִצְּת֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁ לְכ֗וּ וְנִבְנֶה֙ אֶת־חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְלֹא־נִהְיֶ֥ה ע֖וֹד חֶרְפָּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'agּi֨yd lahe֜m 'et-ya֣d 'eloha֗y 'ashsher-hiy'֙ toba֣h 'ala֔y ve'ap-dּibere֥y hamּe֖leke 'ashshe֣r 'aֽmar-li֑y vayּoֽ'meru֙ naq֣um ubani֔ynu vayechazּeq֥u yedeyhe֖m latּobaֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us rise up and build [1]." So they began this good work.

וָאַגִּ֨יד לָהֶ֜ם אֶת־יַ֣ד אֱלֹהַ֗י אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ טוֹבָ֣ה עָלַ֔י וְאַף־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־לִ֑י וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ נָק֣וּם וּבָנִ֔ינוּ וַיְחַזְּק֥וּ יְדֵיהֶ֖ם לַטּוֹבָֽה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema'֩ sanebalּa֨t hachoroni֜y vetobiyּa֣h ׀ ha'e֣bed haֽ'amּoni֗y vege֨shshem֙ haֽ'arebi֔y vayּale'i֣gu la֔nu vayּibez֖u 'ale֑ynu vayּo'mer֗u maֽh-hadּaba֤r hazּeh֙ 'ashshe֣r 'atּe֣m 'oshsi֔ym ha'a֥l hamּe֖leke 'atּe֥m morediֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"

וַיִּשְׁמַע֩ סַנְבַלַּ֨ט הַחֹרֹנִ֜י וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה ׀ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗י וְגֶ֨שֶׁם֙ הָֽעַרְבִ֔י וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ לָ֔נוּ וַיִּבְז֖וּ עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים הַעַ֥ל הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אַתֶּ֥ם מֹרְדִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ashshi֨yb 'ota֜m dּaba֗r va'oma֤r lahem֙ 'elohe֣y hashshּama֔yim h֚u yatzeli֣ychaֽ la֔nu va'ana֥chenu 'abada֖yv naq֣um ubani֑ynu velake֗m 'eֽyn-che֧leq utzedaqa֛h vezikּar֖on bּiyrushshalaiֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."

וָאָשִׁ֨יב אוֹתָ֜ם דָּבָ֗ר וָאוֹמַ֤ר לָהֶם֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם ה֚וּא יַצְלִ֣יחַֽ לָ֔נוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ עֲבָדָ֖יו נָק֣וּם וּבָנִ֑ינוּ וְלָכֶ֗ם אֵֽין־חֵ֧לֶק וּצְדָקָ֛ה וְזִכָּר֖וֹן בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃