New American Standard Bible 1995

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah’s Prayer Answered

1And it cameוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961about in the monthבְּחֹ֣דֶשׁbe.Cho.deshH2320Nisanנִיסָ֗ןni.SanH5212,in the twentiethעֶשְׂרִ֛ים'es.RimH6242yearשְׁנַ֥תshe.NatH8141of Kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783,that wineיַ֣יִןYa.yinH3196wasbeforeלְפָנָ֑יוle.fa.NavH6440him, andI tookוָאֶשָּׂ֤אva.'e.Sa'H5375up the wineהַיַּ֙יִן֙hai.Ya.yinH3196and gaveוָאֶתְּנָ֣הva.'e.te.NahH5414it to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428.Now I had not beenהָיִ֥יתִיha.Yi.tiH1961sadרַ֖עra'H7451in his presenceלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440.

2So the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559to me, “Whyמַדּ֣וּעַ׀ma.Du.a'H4069is your faceפָּנֶ֣יךָpa.Nei.khaH6440sadרָעִ֗יםra.'ImH7451though you are not sickחוֹלֶ֔הcho.LehH2470?Thisזֶ֔הZehH2088is nothingH369but sadnessרֹ֣עַֽRo.a'H7455of heartלֵ֑בLevH3820.”Then I was veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966muchהַרְבֵּ֥הhar.BehH7235afraidוָאִירָ֖אva.'i.Ra'H3372.

3I saidוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428, “Let the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428liveיִחְיֶ֑הyich.YehH2421foreverלְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.LamH5769.Whyמַדּ֜וּעַma.Du.a'H4069should my faceפָנַ֗יfa.NaiH6440not be sadיֵרְע֣וּye.re.'UH7489whenאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the cityהָעִ֜ירha.'IrH5892,the placeבֵּית־beit-H1004of my fathers’אֲבֹתַי֙'a.vo.TaiH1tombsקִבְר֤וֹתkiv.RotH6913,lies desolateחֲרֵבָ֔הcha.re.VahH2720and its gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179have been consumedאֻכְּל֥וּ'u.ke.LuH398by fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃ סva.'EshH784?”

4Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to me, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100would you requestמְבַקֵּ֑שׁme.va.KeshH1245?”So I prayedוָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔לva.'et.pa.LelH6419to the Godאֱלֹהֵ֖י'e.lo.HeiH430of heavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ha.sha.Ma.yimH8064.

5I saidוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428, “Ifאִם־'im-H518it pleaseH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518your servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650has foundH3190favorH3190beforeלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440you, sendתִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִיtish.la.Che.niH7971me to Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063,to the cityעִ֛יר'irH5892of my fathers’אֲבֹתַ֖י'a.vo.TaiH1tombsקִבְר֥וֹתkiv.RotH6913,that I may rebuildוְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃ve.'ev.Ne.nahH1129it.”

6Then the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559to me, the queenוְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל׀ve.ha.she.GalH7694sittingיוֹשֶׁ֣בֶתyo.She.vetH3427besideאֶצְל֗וֹ'etz.LoH681him, “HowH4970longעַד־'ad-H5704 H4970will your journeyמַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ma.ha.la.kha.KhaH4109be, and whenH4970will you returnתָּשׁ֑וּבta.ShuvH7725?”So it pleasedוַיִּיטַ֤בvai.yi.TavH3190the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428to sendוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִיvai.yish.la.Che.niH7971me, andI gaveוָֽאֶתְּנָ֥הva.'e.te.NahH5414him a definiteH2165timeזְמָֽן׃ze.ManH2165.

7And I saidוָאוֹמַר֮va.'o.MarH559to the kingלַמֶּלֶךְ֒la.me.leKhH4428, “Ifאִם־'im-H518it pleaseH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,let lettersאִגְּרוֹת֙'i.ge.rOtH107be givenיִתְּנוּ־yi.te.nu-H5414mefor the governorsפַּחֲו֖וֹתpa.cha.VotH6346of the provincesbeyondעֵ֣בֶר'E.verH5676the Riverהַנָּהָ֑רha.na.HarH5104,that they may allow me to passיַעֲבִיר֔וּנִיya.'a.vi.Ru.niH5674throughH5674untilעַ֥ד'adH5704 H834I comeאָב֖וֹא'a.Vo'H935to Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063,

8and a letterוְאִגֶּ֡רֶתve.'i.Ge.retH107to Asaphאָסָף֩'a.SafH623the keeperשֹׁמֵ֨רsho.MerH8104of the king’sלַמֶּ֗לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428forestהַפַּרְדֵּ֜סha.par.DesH6508,that he may giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414me timberעֵצִ֡ים'e.TzimH6086to makeלְ֠קָרוֹתLe.ka.rotH7136beamsH7136for the gatesשַׁעֲרֵ֨יsha.'a.ReiH8179ofthe fortressהַבִּירָ֤הha.bi.RahH1002whichH834is by thetempleלַבַּ֙יִת֙la.Ba.yitH1004,for the wallוּלְחוֹמַ֣תu.le.cho.MatH2346of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892and for the houseוְלַבַּ֖יִתve.la.Ba.yitH1004to whichH834I will goאָב֣וֹא'a.Vo'H935.”And the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428grantedוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414them to me becausethe goodהַטּוֹבָ֥הha.to.VahH2896handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of my Godאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430was on me.

9Then I cameוָֽאָב֗וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935tothe governorsפַּֽחֲווֹת֙pa.cha.VotH6346of the provincesbeyondעֵ֣בֶר'E.verH5676the Riverהַנָּהָ֔רha.na.HarH5104and gaveוָאֶתְּנָ֣הva.'e.te.NahH5414them the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lettersאִגְּר֣וֹת'i.ge.RotH107. Nowthe kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971with me officersשָׂ֥רֵיSa.reiH8269of the armyחַ֖יִלCha.yilH2428and horsemenוּפָרָשִֽׁים׃ פu.fa.ra.ShimH6571.

10WhenSanballatסַנְבַלַּ֣טsan.va.LatH5571the Horoniteהַחֹרֹנִ֗יha.cho.ro.NiH2772and Tobiahוְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָֽעַמֹּנִ֔יha.'a.mo.NiH5984officialהָעֶ֣בֶדha.'E.vedH5650heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085about it,it was veryגְדֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH7463 H1419displeasingוַיֵּ֥רַעvai.Ye.ra'H7489to them that someoneאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120had comeבָּ֥אba'H935to seekלְבַקֵּ֥שׁle.va.KeshH1245the welfareH2899of the sonsלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11So Icameוָאָב֖וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389and was thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033threeשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃she.lo.ShahH7969daysיָמִ֥יםya.MimH3117.

12And I aroseוָאָק֣וּם׀va.'a.KumH6965in the nightלַ֗יְלָהLay.lahH3915,I and a fewמְעַט֮me.'AtH4592menH376with me. I did not tellהִגַּ֣דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046anyoneלְאָדָ֔םle.'a.DamH120whatמָ֗הMahH4100my Godאֱלֹהַי֙'e.lo.HaiH430was puttingנֹתֵ֣ןno.TenH5414into mymindלִבִּ֔יli.BiH3820to doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213for Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִָ֑םli.ru.sha.LimH3389and thereH369was noH369animalוּבְהֵמָה֙u.ve.he.MahH929with me exceptכִּ֚י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518the animalהַבְּהֵמָ֔הha.be.he.MahH929on whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834I was ridingרֹכֵ֥בro.KhevH7392.

13So I wentוָאֵצְאָ֨הva.'e.tze.'AhH3318out at nightלַ֗יְלָהLay.lahH3915bythe Valleyהַגַּ֜יאha.Gai'H1516Gateבְשַֽׁעַר־ve.sha.'ar-H8179in the directionפְּנֵי֙pe.NeiH6440of the Dragon’sH5886WellH5886and on to theRefuseהָאַשְׁפֹּ֑תha.'ash.PotH830Gateשַׁ֖עַרSha.'arH8179,inspectingשֹׂבֵ֜רso.VerH7663the wallsבְּחוֹמֹ֤תbe.cho.MotH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834were brokenH6555downהֵ֣ם׀ פְּרוּצִ֔יםhemhem/ /fe.ru.tzimfe.ru.tzimH6555and itsgatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179which were consumedאֻכְּל֥וּ'u.ke.LuH398by fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃va.'EshH784.

14Then I passedוָאֶֽעֱבֹר֙va.'e.'e.VorH5674on tothe FountainH5871Gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179andthe King’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Poolבְּרֵכַ֖תbe.re.KhatH1295,but thereH369was noH369placeמָק֥וֹםma.KomH4725formy mountלַבְּהֵמָ֖הla.be.he.MahH929to passלַעֲבֹ֥רla.'a.VorH5674.

15So I wentעֹלֶ֤ה'o.LehH5927up at nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915by theravineבַנַּ֙חַל֙va.Na.chalH5158and inspectedשֹׂבֵ֖רso.VerH7663the wallבַּחוֹמָ֑הba.cho.MahH2346.Then I enteredוָאָב֛וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935the Valleyהַגַּ֖יְאha.Gay'H1516Gateבְּשַׁ֥עַרbe.Sha.'arH8179again and returnedH7725.

16The officialsוְהַסְּגָנִ֗יםve.ha.se.ga.NimH5461did not knowיָדְעוּ֙ya.de.'UH3045whereאָ֣נָה'A.nahH575I had goneהָלַ֔כְתִּיha.Lakh.tiH1980or whatוּמָ֖הu.MahH4100I had doneעֹשֶׂ֑ה'o.SehH6213;norH3808had I as yetכֵּ֖ןkenH3651toldהִגַּֽדְתִּי׃hi.Gad.tiH5046the Jewsוְלַיְּהוּדִ֨יםve.lai.ye.hu.DimH3064,the priestsוְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜יםve.la.ko.ha.NimH3548,the noblesוְלַחֹרִ֣יםve.la.cho.RimH2715,the officialsוְלַסְּגָנִ֗יםve.la.se.ga.NimH5461or the restוּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙u.le.Ye.terH3499who didעֹשֵׂ֣ה'o.SehH6213the workהַמְּלָאכָ֔הha.me.la.KhahH4399.

17Then I saidוָאוֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559to them, “You seeרֹאִים֙ro.'ImH7200the badהָרָעָה֙ha.ra.'AhH7451situationH7463we are in, thatJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389is desolateחֲרֵבָ֔הcha.re.VahH2720and its gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179burnedנִצְּת֣וּni.tze.TuH3341by fireבָאֵ֑שׁva.'EshH784.Comeלְכ֗וּle.KhuH1980,let us rebuildוְנִבְנֶה֙ve.niv.NehH1129the wallחוֹמַ֣תcho.MatH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389soH3808that we will noH3808longerע֖וֹדodH5750be a reproachחֶרְפָּֽה׃cher.PahH2781.”

18I toldוָאַגִּ֨ידva.'a.GidH5046them howאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the handיַ֣דyadH3027of my Godאֱלֹהַ֗י'e.lo.HaiH430had been favorableH2896to me and alsoוְאַף־ve.'af-H637about the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he had spokenאָֽמַר־'a.mar-H559to me. Then they saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559, “Let us ariseנָק֣וּםna.KumH6965and buildוּבָנִ֔ינוּu.va.Ni.nuH1129.”So they putוַיְחַזְּק֥וּvay.cha.ze.KuH2388their handsיְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei.HemH3027to the goodH2899work.

19But when Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֨טsan.va.LatH5571the Horoniteהַחֹרֹנִ֜יha.cho.ro.NiH2772and Tobiahוְטֹבִיָּ֣ה׀ve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗יha.'a.mo.NiH5984officialהָעֶ֣בֶדha.'E.vedH5650, andGeshemוְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ve.Ge.shemH1654the Arabהָֽעַרְבִ֔יha.'ar.ViH6163heardוַיִּשְׁמַע֩vai.yish.Ma'H8085it,they mockedוַיַּלְעִ֣גוּvai.yal.'I.guH3932us and despisedוַיִּבְז֖וּvai.yiv.ZuH959us and saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Whatמָֽה־mah-H4100is thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088thingהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697you are doingעֹשִׂ֔ים'o.SimH6213?Are you rebellingמֹרְדִֽים׃mo.re.DimH4775againstH5921the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428?”

20So I answeredוָאָשִׁ֨יבva.'a.ShivH7725them and saidוָאוֹמַ֤רva.'o.MarH559to them, “The Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064will giveH6743us successיַצְלִ֣יחַֽyatz.Li.achH6743;therefore we His servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו'a.va.DavH5650will ariseנָק֣וּםna.KumH6965and buildוּבָנִ֑ינוּu.va.Ni.nuH1129,but you haveH369noH369portionחֵ֧לֶקChe.lekH2506,rightוּצְדָקָ֛הu.tze.da.KahH6666or memorialוְזִכָּר֖וֹןve.zi.ka.RonH2146in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389.”

Nehemiah’s Prayer Answered

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2