Nehemiah

Chapter 6

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ka'ashshe֣r nishshema֣ lesanebalּa֣t ve֠tobiyּah ulege֨shshem haֽ'arebi֜y uleye֣ter 'oֽyebe֗ynu kּi֤y bani֨ytiy֙ 'et-ha֣choma֔h velo'-n֥otar bּa֖hּ pּa֑retz gּa֚m 'ad-ha'e֣t hahi֔y dּelat֖ot lo'-he'ema֥detּiy bashshּe'ariֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it, though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates,

וַיְהִ֣י כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁמַ֣ע לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּה וּלְגֶ֨שֶׁם הָֽעַרְבִ֜י וּלְיֶ֣תֶר אֹֽיְבֵ֗ינוּ כִּ֤י בָנִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וְלֹא־נ֥וֹתַר בָּ֖הּ פָּ֑רֶץ גַּ֚ם עַד־הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא דְּלָת֖וֹת לֹא־הֶעֱמַ֥דְתִּי בַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshela֨ch sanebalּa֤t vege֨shshem֙ 'ela֣y le'mo֔r leka֞h veniֽua'ada֥h yachedּa֛v bּakּepiyri֖ym bּebiqe'a֣t 'on֑o vehe֨mּah֙ choֽshshebi֔ym la'ashs֥ot li֖y ra'aֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But they were scheming to harm me;

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח סַנְבַלַּ֤ט וְגֶ֨שֶׁם֙ אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֔ר לְכָ֞ה וְנִֽוָּעֲדָ֥ה יַחְדָּ֛ו בַּכְּפִירִ֖ים בְּבִקְעַ֣ת אוֹנ֑וֹ וְהֵ֨מָּה֙ חֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לִ֖י רָעָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'eshshelecha֨h 'aleyhe֤m male'akiym֙ le'mo֔r mela'ka֤h gedolah֙ 'ani֣y 'oshse֔h velo֥ 'uka֖l lare֑det la֣mּah tishshebּa֤t hamּela'kah֙ kּa'ashshe֣r 'arepּe֔ha veyaradetּi֖y 'aleykeֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?"

וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֨ה עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם מַלְאָכִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מְלָאכָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֔ה וְלֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת לָ֣מָּה תִשְׁבַּ֤ת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַרְפֶּ֔הָ וְיָרַדְתִּ֖י אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshelech֥u 'ela֛y kּadּaba֥r hazּe֖h 'arebּa֣ pּe'ami֑ym va'ashshi֥yb 'ota֖m kּadּaba֥r hazּeֽh׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

וַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּ אֵלַ֛י כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אַרְבַּ֣ע פְּעָמִ֑ים וָאָשִׁ֥יב אוֹתָ֖ם כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshelach֩ 'ela֨y sanebalּa֜t kּadּaba֥r hazּe֛h pּa֥'am chamiyshshi֖yt 'eֽt-na'ar֑o ve'igּe֥ret pּetucha֖h bּeyadֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his assistant to me with a similar message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אֵלַ֨י סַנְבַלַּ֜ט כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֛ה פַּ֥עַם חֲמִישִׁ֖ית אֶֽת־נַעֲר֑וֹ וְאִגֶּ֥רֶת פְּתוּחָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּat֣ub bּa֗hּ bּagּoyi֤m nishshema'֙ vegashshem֣u 'ome֔r 'atּa֤h vehayּehudiym֙ choshshebi֣ym limer֔od 'al-kּe֛n 'atּa֥h bone֖h hachoma֑h ve'atּa֗h hove֤h lahem֙ leme֔leke kּadּebari֖ym ha'eֽlּeh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)in which was written: "It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says it is true, that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are rebuilding the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king

כָּת֣וּב בָּ֗הּ בַּגּוֹיִ֤ם נִשְׁמָע֙ וְגַשְׁמ֣וּ אֹמֵ֔ר אַתָּ֤ה וְהַיְּהוּדִים֙ חֹשְׁבִ֣ים לִמְר֔וֹד עַל־כֵּ֛ן אַתָּ֥ה בוֹנֶ֖ה הַחוֹמָ֑ה וְאַתָּ֗ה הֹוֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vegam-nebiy'i֡ym he'ema֣detּa liqero'֩ 'ale֨yka biֽyrushshalai֜m le'mo֗r me֚leke bּiֽyhuda֔h ve'atּah֙ yishshּama֣ lamּe֔leke kּadּebari֣ym ha'e֑lּeh ve'atּa֣h leka֔h veniֽua'atza֖h yachedּaֽv׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together."

וְגַם־נְבִיאִ֡ים הֶעֱמַ֣דְתָּ לִקְרֹא֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ בִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר מֶ֚לֶךְ בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְעַתָּה֙ יִשָּׁמַ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְעַתָּ֣ה לְכָ֔ה וְנִֽוָּעֲצָ֖ה יַחְדָּֽו׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'eshshelecha֤h 'elayv֙ le'mo֔r lo֤ niֽheyah֙ kּadּebari֣ym ha'e֔lּeh 'ashshe֖r 'atּa֣h 'ome֑r kּi֥y miֽlּibּeka֖ 'atּa֥h bodaֽ'm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head."

וָאֶשְׁלְחָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֤א נִֽהְיָה֙ כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה אוֹמֵ֑ר כִּ֥י מִֽלִּבְּךָ֖ אַתָּ֥ה בוֹדָֽאם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֣y kulּa֗m meyaֽre'i֤ym 'ota֨nu֙ le'mo֔r yirepּ֧u yedeyhe֛m min-hamּela'ka֖h velo֣ te'ashse֑h ve'atּa֖h chazּe֥q 'et-yadaֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."

כִּ֣י כֻלָּ֗ם מְיָֽרְאִ֤ים אוֹתָ֨נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יִרְפּ֧וּ יְדֵיהֶ֛ם מִן־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ה וְעַתָּ֖ה חַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־יָדָֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'aniy-ba֗'tiy bּe֣yt shsheֽmaֽ'eya֧h ben-dּelaya֛h bּen-meheֽytabe'e֖l veh֣u 'atz֑ur vayּo֡'mer niua'ed֩ 'el-bּe֨yt ha'elohi֜ym 'el-tּ֣oke haֽheyka֗l venisegּerah֙ dּalet֣ot haheyka֔l kּi֚y bּa'i֣ym leharege֔ka vela֖yelah bּa'i֥ym leharegeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you; by night they are coming to kill you."

וַאֲנִי־בָ֗אתִי בֵּ֣ית שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה בֶן־דְּלָיָ֛ה בֶּן־מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖ל וְה֣וּא עָצ֑וּר וַיֹּ֡אמֶר נִוָּעֵד֩ אֶל־בֵּ֨ית הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַֽהֵיכָ֗ל וְנִסְגְּרָה֙ דַּלְת֣וֹת הַהֵיכָ֔ל כִּ֚י בָּאִ֣ים לְהָרְגֶ֔ךָ וְלַ֖יְלָה בָּאִ֥ים לְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'omera֗h ha'i֤yshsh kּam֨oniy֙ yibera֔ch umi֥y kam֛oniy 'ashsher-yab֥o 'el-haheyka֖l vacha֑y lo֖ 'abֽo'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!"

וָאֹמְרָ֗ה הַאִ֤ישׁ כָּמ֨וֹנִי֙ יִבְרָ֔ח וּמִ֥י כָמ֛וֹנִי אֲשֶׁר־יָב֥וֹא אֶל־הַהֵיכָ֖ל וָחָ֑י לֹ֖א אָבֽוֹא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): va'akּi֕yrah vehinּe֥h loֽ'-'elohi֖ym shshelach֑o kּi֤y hanּebu'ah֙ dּibּe֣r 'ala֔y vetobiyּa֥h vesanebalּa֖t shsekarֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I realised that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

וָאַכִּ֕ירָה וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־אֱלֹהִ֖ים שְׁלָח֑וֹ כִּ֤י הַנְּבוּאָה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַ֔י וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וְסַנְבַלַּ֖ט שְׂכָרֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): lema֤'an shsakur֙ h֔u lemaֽ'an-'iyra֥ ve'eֽ'eshseh-kּe֖n vechata֑'tiy vehaya֤h lahem֙ leshshe֣m ra֔ lema֖'an yechaֽrepֽuniy׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.

לְמַ֤עַן שָׂכוּר֙ ה֔וּא לְמַֽעַן־אִירָ֥א וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־כֵּ֖ן וְחָטָ֑אתִי וְהָיָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְשֵׁ֣ם רָ֔ע לְמַ֖עַן יְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): zakera֧h 'eloha֛y letobiyּa֥h ulesanebalּa֖t kּema'ashsa֣yv 'e֑lּeh vega֨m leno'adeya֤h hanּebiy'ah֙ uleye֣ter hanּebiy'i֔ym 'ashshe֥r hay֖u meyaֽre'i֥ym 'otiֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me.

זָכְרָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י לְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וּלְסַנְבַלַּ֖ט כְּמַעֲשָׂ֣יו אֵ֑לֶּה וְגַ֨ם לְנוֹעַדְיָ֤ה הַנְּבִיאָה֙ וּלְיֶ֣תֶר הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ מְיָֽרְאִ֥ים אוֹתִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּishshelam֙ haֽchoma֔h bּe'eshseri֥ym vachamishshּa֖h le'el֑ul lachamishshּi֥ym ushshena֖yim yֽom׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.

וַתִּשְׁלַם֙ הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה לֶאֱל֑וּל לַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנַ֖יִם יֽוֹם׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֗y kּa'ashshe֤r shshaֽme'u֙ kּal-'֣oyebe֔ynu vayּiֽre'֗u kּal-hagּoyim֙ 'ashshe֣r sebiֽybote֔ynu vayּipּel֥u me'o֖d bּe'eyneyhe֑m vayּe֣de'֔u kּi֚y me'e֣t 'elohe֔ynu ne'eshseta֖h hamּela'ka֥h hazּoֽ't׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realised that this work had been done with the help of our God.

וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ כָּל־א֣וֹיְבֵ֔ינוּ וַיִּֽרְא֗וּ כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִֽיבֹתֵ֔ינוּ וַיִּפְּל֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֚י מֵאֵ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֣m ׀ bּayּami֣ym hahe֗m marebּi֞ym chore֤y yehudah֙ 'igּero֣teyhe֔m holek֖ot 'al-tobiyּa֑h va'ashshe֥r letobiyּa֖h bּa'֥ot 'aleyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah, and replies from Tobiah kept coming to them.

גַּ֣ם ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם מַרְבִּ֞ים חֹרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ אִגְּרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם הוֹלְכ֖וֹת עַל־טוֹבִיָּ֑ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לְטוֹבִיָּ֖ה בָּא֥וֹת אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiy-rabּi֣ym bּiֽyhuda֗h bּa'ale֤y shshebu'ah֙ l֔o kּiy-chata֥n h֖u lishshekaneya֣h ben-'ara֑ch viֽyhochana֣n bּen֔o laqa֕ch 'et-bּat-meshshulּa֖m bּe֥n bּeֽrekeyaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)For many in Judah were under oath to him, since he was son-in-law to Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah.

כִּי־רַבִּ֣ים בִּֽיהוּדָ֗ה בַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁבוּעָה֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־חָתָ֥ן ה֖וּא לִשְׁכַנְיָ֣ה בֶן־אָרַ֑ח וִֽיהוֹחָנָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ לָקַ֕ח אֶת־בַּת־מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם בֶּ֥ן בֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): gּa֣m tobota֗yv hay֤u 'omeriym֙ lepana֔y udebara֕y hay֥u motziy'i֖ym l֑o 'igּer֛ot shshala֥ch tobiyּa֖h leyaֽre'eֽniy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moreover, they kept reporting to me his good deeds and then telling him what I said. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. The wall stood firm despite the treachery.

גַּ֣ם טוֹבֹתָ֗יו הָי֤וּ אֹמְרִים֙ לְפָנַ֔י וּדְבָרַ֕י הָי֥וּ מוֹצִיאִ֖ים ל֑וֹ אִגְּר֛וֹת שָׁלַ֥ח טוֹבִיָּ֖ה לְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי׃