Nehemiah Sent to Jerusalem

1  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) נִיסָ֗ן (of Nisan), שְׁנַ֥ת (in the year) עֶשְׂרִ֛ים (twentieth) לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא (of Artaxerxes) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), יַ֣יִן (that wine) לְפָנָ֑יו (was before his face), וָאֶשָּׂ֤א (and I lifted up) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּ֙יִן֙ (the wine) וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה (and gave it) לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (to the king). וְלֹא־ (And never) הָיִ֥יתִי (I had been) רַ֖ע (sad) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before his face). 2  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) לִ֨י (to me) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king), מַדּ֣וּעַ׀ (Why is) פָּנֶ֣יךָ (your face) רָעִ֗ים (sad), וְאַתָּה֙ (and you are) אֵֽינְךָ֣ (not) חוֹלֶ֔ה (sick)? אֵ֣ין (Nothing) זֶ֔ה (this is) כִּי־ (except) אִ֖ם (but) רֹ֣עַֽ (sorrow) לֵ֑ב (of heart).

וָאִירָ֖א (And I feared) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (much) מְאֹֽד׃ (very), 3  וָאֹמַ֣ר (and I said) לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (to the king), הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (The king) לְעוֹלָ֣ם (forever) יִחְיֶ֑ה (live)! מַדּ֜וּעַ (Why) לֹא־ (not) יֵרְע֣וּ (should be sad) פָנַ֗י (my face) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (when) הָעִ֜יר (the city), בֵּית־ (the place) קִבְר֤וֹת (of tombs) אֲבֹתַי֙ (of my fathers), חֲרֵבָ֔ה (is waste) וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ (and its gates) אֻכְּל֥וּ (have been consumed) בָאֵֽשׁ׃ס (with the fire)?

4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לִי֙ (to me) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) עַל־ (Upon) מַה־ (what) זֶּ֖ה (is this) אַתָּ֣ה (you) מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ (are seeking)?

וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔ל (And I prayed) אֶל־ (to) אֱלֹהֵ֖י (the God) הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (of the heavens), 5  וָאֹמַ֣ר (and I said) לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (to the king), אִם־ (If) עַל־ (to) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) ט֔וֹב (it is good), וְאִם־ (and if) יִיטַ֥ב (has found favor) עַבְדְּךָ֖ (your servant) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (in your eyes), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (I ask that) תִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִי (you send me) אֶל־ (to) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah), אֶל־ (to) עִ֛יר (the city) קִבְר֥וֹת (of tombs) אֲבֹתַ֖י (of my fathers), וְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃ (and I will rebuild it).

6  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) לִ֨י (to me) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל׀ (and the queen) יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת (was sitting) אֶצְל֗וֹ (beside him), עַד־ (Even to) מָתַ֛י (when) יִהְיֶ֥ה (will be) מַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ (your journey)? וּמָתַ֣י (And) תָּשׁ֑וּב (will you return)? וַיִּיטַ֤ב (And it was good) לִפְנֵֽי־ (before the face of) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִי (and he sent me away), וָֽאֶתְּנָ֥ה (and I set) ל֖וֹ (for him) זְמָֽן׃ (a time).

7  וָאוֹמַר֮ (And I said) לַמֶּלֶךְ֒ (to the king), אִם־ (If) עַל־ (to) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) ט֔וֹב (it is good), אִגְּרוֹת֙ (letters) יִתְּנוּ־ (let be given) לִ֔י (to me) עַֽל־ (for) פַּחֲו֖וֹת (the governors) עֵ֣בֶר (beyond) הַנָּהָ֑ר (the River), אֲשֶׁר֙ (that) יַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי (they let me pass over) עַ֥ד (until) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אָב֖וֹא (I come) אֶל־ (to) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (Judah), 8  וְאִגֶּ֡רֶת (and a letter) אֶל־ (to) אָסָף֩ (Asaph) שֹׁמֵ֨ר (the keeper) הַפַּרְדֵּ֜ס (of the forest), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that is) לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (unto the king) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יִתֶּן־ (he give) לִ֣י (to me) עֵצִ֡ים (timber) לְ֠קָרוֹת (to make beams) אֶת־ (for) שַׁעֲרֵ֨י (the gates) הַבִּירָ֤ה (of the citadel) אֲשֶׁר־ (that is) לַבַּ֙יִת֙ (for the house), וּלְחוֹמַ֣ת (and for the wall) הָעִ֔יר (of the city), וְלַבַּ֖יִת (and for the house) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אָב֣וֹא (I will enter) אֵלָ֑יו (into).

וַיִּתֶּן־ (And granted) לִ֣י (to me) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) כְּיַד־ (according to hand) אֱלֹהַ֖י (of my God) הַטּוֹבָ֥ה (the good) עָלָֽי׃ (upon me).

9  וָֽאָב֗וֹא (And I went) אֶֽל־ (to) פַּֽחֲווֹת֙ (the governors) עֵ֣בֶר (beyond) הַנָּהָ֔ר (the River) וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה (and I gave) לָהֶ֔ם (to them) אֵ֖ת (-) אִגְּר֣וֹת (letters) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) עִמִּי֙ (with me) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) שָׂ֥רֵי (captains) חַ֖יִל (of a force) וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃פ (and horsemen).

10  וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע (And heard) סַנְבַלַּ֣ט (Sanballat) הַחֹרֹנִ֗י (the Horonite) וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ (and Tobiah) הָעֶ֣בֶד (the servant), הָֽעַמֹּנִ֔י (the Ammonite), וַיֵּ֥רַע (and were disturbed) לָהֶ֖ם (they) רָעָ֣ה (exceedingly) גְדֹלָ֑ה (deeply) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֥א (had come) אָדָ֔ם (a man) לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (to seek) טוֹבָ֖ה (the good) לִבְנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

Nehemiah Inspects the Walls

11  וָאָב֖וֹא (And I came) אֶל־ (to) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem) וָאֱהִי־ (and was) שָׁ֖ם (there) יָמִ֥ים (days) שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ (three). 12  וָאָק֣וּם׀ (And I arose) לַ֗יְלָה (in the night), אֲנִי֮ (I) וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים׀ (and men) מְעַט֮ (a few) עִמִּי֒ (with me), וְלֹא־ (and not) הִגַּ֣דְתִּי (I did tell) לְאָדָ֔ם (to a man) מָ֗ה (what) אֱלֹהַי֙ (my God) נֹתֵ֣ן (had put) אֶל־ (in) לִבִּ֔י (my heart) לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת (to do) לִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (at Jerusalem), וּבְהֵמָה֙ (and a beast) אֵ֣ין (there was not) עִמִּ֔י (with me) כִּ֚י (for) אִם־ (but) הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה (the beast) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אֲנִ֖י (I) רֹכֵ֥ב (was riding) בָּֽהּ׃ (upon).

13  וָאֵצְאָ֨ה (And I went out) בְשַֽׁעַר־ (through Gate) הַגַּ֜יא (of the Valley) לַ֗יְלָה (by night), וְאֶל־ (and to) פְּנֵי֙ (the front) עֵ֣ין (of the Well) הַתַּנִּ֔ין (of the Serpent) וְאֶל־ (and to) שַׁ֖עַר (the Gate) הָאַשְׁפֹּ֑ת (of the Dunghill). וָאֱהִ֨י (And I was) שֹׂבֵ֜ר (inspecting) בְּחוֹמֹ֤ת (the walls) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (of Jerusalem) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הַמְפֹרוָצִים (had been broken down) וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ (and its gates) אֻכְּל֥וּ (that had been consumed) בָאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire).

14  וָאֶֽעֱבֹר֙ (And I went on) אֶל־ (to) שַׁ֣עַר (the Gate) הָעַ֔יִן (of the Fountain) וְאֶל־ (and to) בְּרֵכַ֖ת (the Pool) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the King), וְאֵין־ (and not was) מָק֥וֹם (place) לַבְּהֵמָ֖ה (for the beast) לַעֲבֹ֥ר (me to pass over) תַּחְתָּֽי׃ (under me). 15  וָאֱהִ֨י (And I) עֹלֶ֤ה (went up) בַנַּ֙חַל֙ (by the valley) לַ֔יְלָה (by night) וָאֱהִ֥י (and I was) שֹׂבֵ֖ר (inspecting) בַּחוֹמָ֑ה (the wall), וָאָשׁ֗וּב (and I turned back) וָאָב֛וֹא (and came in) בְּשַׁ֥עַר (through the Gate) הַגַּ֖יְא (of the Valley), וָאָשֽׁוּב׃ (and I returned).

16  וְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים (And the prefects) לֹ֤א (not) יָדְעוּ֙ (did know) אָ֣נָה (where) הָלַ֔כְתִּי (I had gone) וּמָ֖ה (or what) אֲנִ֣י (I) עֹשֶׂ֑ה (had done). וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים (And to the Jews), וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים (and to the priests), וְלַחֹרִ֣ים (and to the freemen), וְלַסְּגָנִ֗ים (and to the prefects), וּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙ (and to the rest) עֹשֵׂ֣ה (of those doing) הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה (the work), עַד־ (even) כֵּ֖ן (yet) לֹ֥א (not) הִגַּֽדְתִּי׃ (I had told it). 17  וָאוֹמַ֣ר (And I said) אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (to them), אַתֶּ֤ם (You⁺) רֹאִים֙ (see) הָרָעָה֙ (the distress) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אֲנַ֣חְנוּ (we are) בָ֔הּ (in)— אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (Jerusalem) חֲרֵבָ֔ה (is waste) וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ (and its gates) נִצְּת֣וּ (are burned) בָאֵ֑שׁ (with the fire). לְכ֗וּ (Come) וְנִבְנֶה֙ (and let us build) אֶת־ (-) חוֹמַ֣ת (the wall) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem), וְלֹא־ (that not) נִהְיֶ֥ה (we may be) ע֖וֹד (anymore) חֶרְפָּֽה׃ (a reproach).

18  וָאַגִּ֨יד (And I told) לָהֶ֜ם (them) אֶת־ (-) יַ֣ד (of the hand) אֱלֹהַ֗י (of my God) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הִיא֙ (was) טוֹבָ֣ה (good) עָלַ֔י (upon me), וְאַף־ (and also) דִּבְרֵ֥י (of words) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אָֽמַר־ (he had spoken) לִ֑י (to me).

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (And they said), נָק֣וּם (Let us rise up) וּבָנִ֔ינוּ (and build). וַיְחַזְּק֥וּ (And they strengthened) יְדֵיהֶ֖ם (their hands) לַטּוֹבָֽה׃פ (for good).

19  וַיִּשְׁמַע֩ (And heard of it) סַנְבַלַּ֨ט (and Sanballat) הַחֹרֹנִ֜י (the Horonite) וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה׀ (and Tobiah) הָעֶ֣בֶד (the servant), הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗י (the Ammonite), וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ (and Geshem) הָֽעַרְבִ֔י (the Arab), וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ (and they laughed) לָ֔נוּ (at us) וַיִּבְז֖וּ (and despised) עָלֵ֑ינוּ (us) וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (and said), מָֽה־ (What is) הַדָּבָ֤ר (the thing) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) עֹשִׂ֔ים (are doing)? הַעַ֥ל (Against) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) מֹרְדִֽים׃ (are rebelling)?

20  וָאָשִׁ֨יב (And I returned) אוֹתָ֜ם (to them) דָּבָ֗ר (word) וָאוֹמַ֤ר (and said) לָהֶם֙ (to them), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (The God) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (of the heavens), ה֚וּא (He) יַצְלִ֣יחַֽ (will prosper) לָ֔נוּ (us), וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ (and we) עֲבָדָ֖יו (His servants) נָק֣וּם (will arise) וּבָנִ֑ינוּ (and build). וְלָכֶ֗ם (And you⁺) אֵֽין־ (have no) חֵ֧לֶק (heritage) וּצְדָקָ֛ה (or right) וְזִכָּר֖וֹן (or memorial) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (in Jerusalem).