Nehemiah

Chapter 4

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ka'ashshe֣r shshama֣ sanebalּa֡t ve֠tobiyּah veha'arebi֨ym veha'amּoni֜ym veha'ashshedּodi֗ym kּiֽy-'aleta֤h 'arukah֙ lechom֣ot yerushshalai֔m kּiy-heche֥lּu hapּerutzi֖ym lehisּate֑m vayּi֥char lahe֖m me'oֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,

וַיְהִ֣י כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמַ֣ע סַנְבַלַּ֡ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וְהָעַרְבִ֨ים וְהָעַמֹּנִ֜ים וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗ים כִּֽי־עָלְתָ֤ה אֲרוּכָה֙ לְחֹמ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּי־הֵחֵ֥לּוּ הַפְּרֻצִ֖ים לְהִסָּתֵ֑ם וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqeshsher֤u kulּam֙ yachedּa֔v lab֖o lehilּache֣m bּiyrushshala֑im vela'ashs֥ot l֖o tּo'aֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)and said in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble, burned as they are?"

וַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּ כֻלָּם֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו לָב֖וֹא לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת ל֖וֹ תּוֹעָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vanּitepּalּe֖l 'el-'elohe֑ynu vanּa'ami֨yd mishshema֧r 'aleyhe֛m yoma֥m vala֖yelah mipּeneyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building, even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!"

וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלַ֖יְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer yehuda֗h kּashshal֙ kּo֣cha hasּabּa֔l vehe'apa֖r harebּe֑h va'ana֨chenu֙ lo֣ nuka֔l liben֖ot bּachomaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה כָּשַׁל֙ כֹּ֣חַ הַסַּבָּ֔ל וְהֶעָפָ֖ר הַרְבֵּ֑ה וַאֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ לֹ֣א נוּכַ֔ל לִבְנ֖וֹת בַּחוֹמָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֣u tzare֗ynu lo֤ yede'u֙ velo֣ yire'֔u 'a֛d 'ashsher-nab֥o 'el-tּoka֖m vaharagen֑um vehishshebּa֖tenu 'et-hamּela'kaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)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.

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ צָרֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֤א יֵדְעוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִרְא֔וּ עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָב֥וֹא אֶל־תּוֹכָ֖ם וַהֲרַגְנ֑וּם וְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּ אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyehiy֙ kּa'ashsher-bּa֣'u hayּehudi֔ym hayּoshshebi֖ym 'etzela֑m vayּo֤'meru la֨nu֙ 'e֣shser pּe'ami֔ym mikּal-hamּeqom֖ot 'ashsher-tּashsh֥ubu 'aleֽynu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind [1] to work.

וַֽיְהִי֙ כַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לָ֨נוּ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים מִכָּל־הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁ֥וּבוּ עָלֵֽינוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽ'a'ami֞yd miֽtּachetּiyּ֧ot lamּaq֛om me'achare֥y lachoma֖h btzchchyym bּatzּechiychi֑ym vaֽ'a'ami֤yd 'et-ha'am֙ lemishshepּach֔ot 'im-chareboteyhe֛m ramecheyhe֖m veqashshּetoteyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.

וָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת לַמָּק֛וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י לַחוֹמָ֖ה בצחחיים בַּצְּחִיחִ֑ים וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד אֶת־הָעָם֙ לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת עִם־חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם רָמְחֵיהֶ֖ם וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'e֣re va'aq֗um va'oma֞r 'el-hachori֤ym ve'el-hasּeganiym֙ ve'el-ye֣ter ha'a֔m 'al-tּiֽyre'֖u mipּeneyhe֑m 'et-'adona֞y hagּad֤ol vehanּora'֙ zeko֔ru vehiֽlּacham֗u 'al-'acheykem֙ bּeneyke֣m ubenoteyke֔m neshsheyke֖m ubatּeykeֽm׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.

וָאֵ֣רֶא וָאָק֗וּם וָאֹמַ֞ר אֶל־הַחֹרִ֤ים וְאֶל־הַסְּגָנִים֙ וְאֶל־יֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם אֶת־אֲדֹנָ֞י הַגָּד֤וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא֙ זְכֹ֔רוּ וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֗וּ עַל־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֖ם וּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֞y kּaֽ'ashsher-shshame'֤u 'oyebe֨ynu֙ kּiy-n֣odaֽ la֔nu vayּa֥per ha'elohi֖ym 'et-'atzata֑m vnshvb vanּa֤shshab kּulּa֨nu֙ 'el-ha֣choma֔h 'i֖yshsh 'el-mela'ketּֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

וַיְהִ֞י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֤וּ אוֹיְבֵ֨ינוּ֙ כִּי־נ֣וֹדַֽע לָ֔נוּ וַיָּ֥פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עֲצָתָ֑ם ונשוב וַנָּ֤שָׁב כֻּלָּ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ׀ min-hayּ֣om hah֗u chatzi֣y ne'aray֮ 'oshsi֣ym bּamּela'kah֒ vechetzeya֗m machaziyqiym֙ veharemachi֣ym hamּaginּi֔ym vehaqּeshshat֖ot vehashshּireyoni֑ym veha֨shsּari֔ym 'achare֖y kּal-bּe֥yt yehudaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the labourers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ מִן־הַיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא חֲצִ֣י נְעָרַי֮ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּמְּלָאכָה֒ וְחֶצְיָ֗ם מַחֲזִיקִים֙ וְהָרְמָחִ֣ים הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים וְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹת וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑ים וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י כָּל־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): habּoni֧ym bּachoma֛h vehanּoshse'i֥ym bּasּe֖bel 'omeshsi֑ym bּe'acha֤t yado֙ 'oshse֣h bamּela'ka֔h ve'acha֖t machaze֥qet hashshּaֽlach׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work."

הַבּוֹנִ֧ים בַּחוֹמָ֛ה וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖בֶל עֹמְשִׂ֑ים בְּאַחַ֤ת יָדוֹ֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ת מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת הַשָּֽׁלַח׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veha֨bּoni֔ym 'i֥yshsh charebּ֛o 'asuri֥ym 'al-matena֖yv uboni֑ym vehatּoqe֥'a bּashshּopa֖r 'etzeliֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."

וְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔ים אִ֥ישׁ חַרְבּ֛וֹ אֲסוּרִ֥ים עַל־מָתְנָ֖יו וּבוֹנִ֑ים וְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר אֶצְלִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'oma֞r 'el-hachori֤ym ve'el-hasּeganiym֙ ve'el-ye֣ter ha'a֔m hamּela'ka֥h harebּe֖h urechaba֑h va'ana֗chenu niperadiym֙ 'al-ha֣choma֔h rechoqi֖ym 'i֥yshsh me'achiֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.

וָאֹמַ֞ר אֶל־הַחֹרִ֤ים וְאֶל־הַסְּגָנִים֙ וְאֶל־יֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה הַרְבֵּ֖ה וּרְחָבָ֑ה וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ נִפְרָדִים֙ עַל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה רְחוֹקִ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ מֵאָחִֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּimeq֗om 'ashshe֤r tּishsheme'u֙ 'et-q֣ol hashshּopa֔r shsha֖mּah tּiqּabetz֣u 'ele֑ynu 'elohe֖ynu yilּa֥chem laֽnu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

בִּמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר שָׁ֖מָּה תִּקָּבְצ֣וּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יִלָּ֥חֶם לָֽנוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ana֖chenu 'oshsi֣ym bּamּela'ka֑h vechetzeya֗m machaziyqiym֙ bּaֽremachi֔ym me'al֣ot hashshּa֔char 'a֖d tze֥'t hakּokabiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה וְחֶצְיָ֗ם מַחֲזִיקִים֙ בָּֽרְמָחִ֔ים מֵעֲל֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔חַר עַ֖ד צֵ֥את הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֣m bּa'e֤t hahiy'֙ 'ama֣retּiy la'a֔m 'i֣yshsh vena'ar֔o yali֖ynu bּet֣oke yerushshala֑im vehaֽyu-la֧nu halּa֛yelah mishshema֖r vehayּ֥om mela'kaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armour. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah

גַּ֣ם בָּעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי לָעָ֔ם אִ֣ישׁ וְנַעֲר֔וֹ יָלִ֖ינוּ בְּת֣וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְהָֽיוּ־לָ֧נוּ הַלַּ֛יְלָה מִשְׁמָ֖ר וְהַיּ֥וֹם מְלָאכָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'e֨yn 'ani֜y ve'acha֣y une'ara֗y ve'aneshshe֤y hamּishshemar֙ 'ashshe֣r 'achara֔y 'eyn-'ana֥chenu poshsheti֖ym bּegade֑ynu 'i֖yshsh shshilech֥o hamּaֽyim׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,

וְאֵ֨ין אֲנִ֜י וְאַחַ֣י וּנְעָרַ֗י וְאַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמִּשְׁמָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַחֲרַ֔י אֵין־אֲנַ֥חְנוּ פֹשְׁטִ֖ים בְּגָדֵ֑ינוּ אִ֖ישׁ שִׁלְח֥וֹ הַמָּֽיִם׃ס