Revised Literal Translation

Ezra 4

1Now when the adversariesצָרֵ֥יtza.ReiH6862of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Benjaminוּבִנְיָמִ֑ןu.vin.ya.MinH1144heardוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085that the childrenבְנֵ֤יve.NeiH1121of the captivityהַגּוֹלָה֙ha.go.LahH1473buildedבּוֹנִ֣יםbo.NimH1129the templeהֵיכָ֔לhei.KhalH1964unto Yhwhלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478;

2Then they cameוַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּvai.yi.ge.ShuH5066to Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216,and to the chiefרָאשֵׁ֣יra.SheiH7218of the fathersהָֽאָב֗וֹתha.'a.VotH1,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto them, Let us buildנִבְנֶ֣הniv.NehH1129with you: for we seekנִדְר֖וֹשׁnid.Ro.oshH1875your Godלֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑םle.lo.hei.KhemH430, as ye do;and we do sacrificeזֹבְחִ֗יםzoe.ChimH2076unto him since the daysמִימֵי֙mi.MeiH3117of Esar–haddonH634kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Assurאַשּׁ֔וּר'a.ShurH804,which brought us up hitherהַמַּעֲלֶ֥הha.ma.'a.LehH5927.

3But Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֜לze.ru.ba.VelH2216,and Jeshuaוְיֵשׁ֗וּעַve.ye.Shu.a'H3442,and the restוּשְׁאָ֨רu.she.'ArH7605of the chiefרָאשֵׁ֤יra.SheiH7218of the fathersהָֽאָבוֹת֙ha.'a.VotH1of Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to buildלִבְנ֥וֹתliv.NotH1129an houseבַּ֖יִתBa.yitH1004unto our Godלֵאלֹהֵ֑ינוּle.lo.Hei.nuH430;but we ourselves togetherיַ֜חַדYa.chadH3162will buildנִבְנֶ֗הniv.NehH1129unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,as kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Cyrusכּ֥וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539hath commandedצִוָּ֔נוּtzi.Va.nuH6680us.

4Then the peopleעַם־'am-H5971of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776weakenedמְרַפִּ֖יםme.ra.PimH7503the handsיְדֵ֣יye.DeiH3027of the peopleעַם־'am-H5971of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,and troubledוּֽמְבַהֲלִ֥יםu.me.va.la.himH1089 H926them in buildingלִבְנֽוֹת׃liv.NotH1129,

5And hiredוְסֹכְרִ֧יםve.so.khe.RimH7936counsellorsיוֹעֲצִ֖יםyo.'a.TzimH3289against them, to frustrateלְהָפֵ֣רle.ha.FerH6565their purposeעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098,all the daysיְמֵ֗יye.MeiH3117of Cyrusכּ֚וֹרֶשׁKo.reshH3566kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Persiaפָּרַ֔סpa.RasH6539,even until the reignמַלְכ֖וּתmal.KhutH4438of Dariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1867kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃pa.RasH6539.

6And in the reignוּבְמַלְכוּת֙u.ve.mal.KhutH4438of Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ'a.chash.ve.Ro.oshH325,in the beginningבִּתְחִלַּ֖תbit.chi.LatH8462of his reignמַלְכוּת֑וֹmal.khu.ToH4438,wroteכָּתְב֣וּka.te.VuH3789they unto himan accusationשִׂטְנָ֔הsit.NahH7855against the inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.VeiH3427of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063and Jerusalemוִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סvi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

7And in the daysוּבִימֵ֣יu.vi.MeiH3117of Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא'ar.tach.Shas.ta'H783wroteכָּתַ֨בka.TavH3789Bishlamבִּשְׁלָ֜םbish.LamH1312,Mithredathמִתְרְדָ֤תmit.re.DatH4990,Tabeelטָֽבְאֵל֙ta.ve.'ElH2870,and the restוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7605of their companionsכְּנָוֹתָ֔יוke.na.vo.tovH3674,unto Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.taH783kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Persiaפָּרָ֑סpa.RasH6539;and the writingוּכְתָב֙u.khe.TavH3791of the letterהַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ןha.nish.te.VanH5406waswrittenכָּת֥וּבka.TuvH3789in the Syrian tongueאֲרָמִ֖ית'a.ra.MitH762,and interpretedוּמְתֻרְגָּ֥םu.me.tur.GamH8638in the Syrian tongueאֲרָמִֽית׃ פ'a.ra.MitH762.

8Rehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348the chancellorבְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗םbe.'el- te.'EmH2942 H1169and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613wroteכְּתַ֛בוּke.Ta.vuH3790aחֲדָ֖הcha.DahH2298letterאִגְּרָ֥ה'i.ge.RahH104againstעַל־'al-H5922Jerusalemיְרוּשְׁלֶ֑םye.ru.she.LemH3390to Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783the kingמַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka'H4430in this sortכְּנֵֽמָא׃ke.Ne.ma'H3660:

9Thenאֱדַ֜יִן'e.Da.yinH116wroteRehumרְח֣וּםre.ChumH7348the chancellorבְּעֵל־ טְעֵ֗םbe.'el- te.'EmH2942 H1169,and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,and the restוּשְׁאָ֖רu.she.'ArH7606of their companionsכְּנָוָתְה֑וֹןke.na.va.te.HonH3675;the Dinaitesדִּ֠ינָיֵאDi.na.ye'H1784,the Apharsathchitesוַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵ֞אva.'a.far.sat.kha.Ye'H671,the Tarpelitesטַרְפְּלָיֵ֣אtar.pe.la.Ye'H2967,the Apharsitesאֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א'a.fa.re.sa.Ye'H670,the Archevitesאַרְכְּוָיֵ֤א'ar.ke.vai'H756,the Babyloniansבָבְלָיֵא֙va.ve.la.Ye'H896,the Susanchitesשֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔אshu.shan.kha.Ye'H7801,the Dehavitesדֶּהָיֵ֖אdi.hu'H1723, andthe Elamitesעֵלְמָיֵֽא׃'e.le.ma.Ye'H5962,

10And the restוּשְׁאָ֣רu.she.'ArH7606of the nationsאֻמַּיָּ֗א'u.mai.Ya'H524whomH1768the greatרַבָּ֣אra.Ba'H7229and nobleוְיַקִּירָ֔אve.ya.ki.Ra'H3358Asnapparאָסְנַפַּר֙'a.se.na.ParH620brought overהַגְלִי֙hag.LiH1541,and setוְהוֹתֵ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹve.ho.Tev hi.MoH1994 H3488in the citiesבְּקִרְיָ֖הbe.kir.YahH7149of Samariaשָׁמְרָ֑יִןsha.me.Ra.yinH8115,and the restוּשְׁאָ֥רu.she.'ArH7606that areon this sideעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675the riverנַהֲרָ֖הna.ha.Rah'H5103,and at such a timeוּכְעֶֽנֶת׃u.khe.'E.netH3706.

11Thisדְּנָה֙de.NahH1836isthe copyפַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶןpar.She.genH6573of the letterאִגַּרְתָּ֔א'i.gar.Ta'H104thatדִּ֚יdiH1768they sentשְׁלַ֣חוּshe.La.chuH7972unto himH5922, evenunto Artaxerxesאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא'ar.tach.Shas.te'H783the kingמַלְכָּ֑אmal.Ka'H4430;Thy servantsעַבְדָ֛ךְav.da.yikhH5649the menאֱנָ֥שׁ'e.NashH606on this sideעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675the riverנַהֲרָ֖הna.ha.Rah'H5103,and at such a timeוּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ פu.khe.'E.netH3706.

12Be itלֶהֱוֵ֣אle.he.Ve'H1934knownיְדִ֙יעַ֙ye.Di.a'H3046unto the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430,that the Jewsיְהוּדָיֵ֗אye.hu.da.Ye'H3062whichH1768came upסְלִ֙קוּ֙se.Li.kuH5559fromמִן־min-H4481theeלְוָתָ֔ךְle.va.TakhH3890to usעֲלֶ֥ינָא'a.Lei.na'H5922are comeאֲת֖וֹ'a.ToH858unto Jerusalemלִירוּשְׁלֶ֑םli.ru.she.LemH3390,buildingבָּנַ֔יִןba.Na.yinH1124the rebelliousמָֽרָדְתָּ֤אma.ra.de.Ta'H4779and the badוּבִֽישְׁתָּא֙u.vi.yo.she.Ta'H873cityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149,and have set upשַׁכְלִ֔ילוּshakh.Li.luH3635the wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֣אve.shu.rai.Ya'H7792thereof,and joinedיַחִֽיטוּ׃ya.Chi.tuH2338the foundationsוְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖אve.'u.shai.Ya'H787.

13Be it knownיְדִ֙יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣אye.Di.a' le.he.Ve'H1934 H3046nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705unto the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430,that, ifהֵ֣ןhenH2006thisדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149be buildedתִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124,and the wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792set upיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635again, thenwill they notלָ֣אla'H3809payיִנְתְּנ֔וּןyin.te.NunH5415tollמִנְדָּֽה־min.dah-H4061,tributeבְל֤וֹve.LoH1093,and customוַהֲלָךְ֙va.ha.loKhH1983, and sothou shalt endamageתְּהַנְזִֽק׃te.han.ZikH5142the revenueוְאַפְּתֹ֥םve.'a.pe.TomH674of the kingsמַלְכִ֖יםmal.KhimH4430.

14Nowכְּעַ֗ןke.'AnH3705becauseקֳבֵל֙ko.VelH3606 H6903we haveדִּֽי־di-H1768maintenanceמְלַ֤ח מְלַ֔חְנָאme.Lach me.Lach.na'H4416 H4415from the king’spalaceהֵֽיכְלָא֙hei.khe.La'H1965,and it was notלָ֥אla'H3809meetאֲֽרִֽיךְ'arikhH749for us to seeלְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑אle.me.che.Ze'H2370the king’sמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430dishonourוְעַרְוַ֣תve.'ar.VatH6173,thereforeעַ֨ל־ דְּנָ֔ה'Al- de.NahH1836 H5922have we sentשְׁלַ֖חְנָאshe.Lach.na'H7972and certifiedוְהוֹדַ֥עְנָאve.ho.Da'.na'H3046the kingלְמַלְכָּֽא׃le.mal.Ka'H4430;

15That searchיְבַקַּר֩ye.va.KarH1240may be made in the bookבִּֽסְפַר־bis.far-H5609of the recordsדָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜אda.khe.Ra.nai.Ya'H1799of thy fathersאֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ'a.va.ha.TakhH2:so shalt thou findוּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּחU.te.hash.kachH7912in the bookבִּסְפַ֣רbis.FarH5609of the recordsדָּכְרָנַיָּא֮da.khe.ra.nai.Ya'H1799,and knowוְתִנְדַּע֒ve.tin.Da'H3046that thisדָ֜ךְdakhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֨אkir.ye.Ta'H7149isa rebelliousמָֽרָדָ֗אma.ra.Da'H4779cityקִרְיָ֣אkir.Ya'H7149,and hurtfulוּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤תu.me.han.ze.KatH5142unto kingsמַלְכִין֙mal.KhinH4430and provincesוּמְדִנָ֔ןu.me.di.NanH4083,and that they have movedעָבְדִ֣ין'a.ve.DinH5648seditionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ve.'esh.ta.DurH849within the sameבְּגַוַּ֔הּbe.ga.VahH1459ofמִן־min-H4481oldעָלְמָ֑א'al.Ma'H5957timeיוֹמָ֖תyo.MatH3118:forעַ֨ל־'Al-H5922whichדְּנָ֔הde.NahH1836cause was thisדָ֖ךְdakhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149destroyedהָֽחָרְבַֽת׃Ha.cha.re.VatH2718.

16Weאֲנַ֙חְנָה֙'a.Nach.nahH586certifyמְהוֹדְעִ֤יןme.hod.'InH3046the kingלְמַלְכָּ֔אle.mal.Ka'H4430that, ifהֵ֣ןhenH2006thisדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֥אkir.ye.Ta'H7149be buildedתִּתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124again,and the wallsוְשׁוּרַיָּ֖הve.shu.rai.Yah'H7792thereof set upיִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּןyish.takh.le.LunH3635,by thisדְּנָ֔הde.NahH1836meansלָקֳבֵ֣לlo.ko.VelH6903thou shalt haveאִיתַ֖י'i.TaiH383noלָ֥אla'H3809portionחֲלָק֙cha.LakH2508on this sideבַּעֲבַ֣רba.'a.VarH5675the riverנַהֲרָ֔אna.ha.Ra'H5103.

17Thensentשְׁלַ֣חshe.LachH7972the kingמַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka'H4430an answerפִּתְגָמָ֞אpit.ga.Ma'H6600untoעַל־'al-H5922Rehumרְח֤וּםre.ChumH7348the chancellorבְּעֵל־ טְעֵם֙be.'el- te.'EmH2942 H1169, and toShimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֣יve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָֽפְרָ֔אsa.fe.Ra'H5613, and tothe restוּשְׁאָר֙u.she.'ArH7606of their companionsכְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹןke.na.Va.te.HonH3675that dwellיָתְבִ֖יןya.te.VinH3488in Samariaבְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִןbe.sha.me.Ra.yinH8115, and untothe restוּשְׁאָ֧רu.she.'ArH7606beyondעֲבַֽר־'a.var-H5675the riverנַהֲרָ֛הna.ha.Rah'H5103,Peaceשְׁלָ֖םshe.LamH8001,and at such a timeוּכְעֶֽת׃ סu.khe.'EtH3706.

18The letterנִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕אnish.te.va.Na'H5407which ye sentשְׁלַחְתּ֖וּןshe.lach.TunH7972unto usעֲלֶ֑ינָא'a.Lei.na'H5922hath been plainlyמְפָרַ֥שׁme.fa.RashH6568readקֱרִ֖יke.RiH7123beforeקָדָמָֽי׃ka.da.MaiH6925me.

19And Iוּמִנִּי֮u.mi.NiH4481commandedשִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒sim te.'EmH2942 H7761,and searchוּבַקַּ֣רוּu.va.Ka.ruH1240hath been made, and it is foundוְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּve.hash.Ka.chuH7912that thisדָ֔ךְDakhH1791cityקִרְיְתָ֣אkir.ye.Ta'H7149ofמִן־min-H4481oldעָֽלְמָ֔א'al.Ma'H5957timeיוֹמָת֙yo.MatH3118hath made insurrectionמִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑הmit.na.se.'AhH5376againstעַל־'al-H5922kingsמַלְכִ֖יןmal.KhinH4430, and thatrebellionוּמְרַ֥דu.me.RadH4776and seditionוְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּרve.'esh.ta.DurH849have been madeמִתְעֲבֶד־mit.'a.ved-H5648therein.

20There have beenהֲווֹ֙ha.VoH1934mightyתַּקִּיפִ֗יןta.ki.FinH8624kingsוּמַלְכִ֣יןu.mal.KhinH4430also overעַל־'al-H5922Jerusalemיְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔םye.Ru.she.LemH3390,which have ruledוְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔יןve.Sha.li.TinH7990over allבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3606countriesbeyondעֲבַ֣ר'a.VarH5675the riverנַהֲרָ֑הna.ha.Rah'H5103;and tollוּמִדָּ֥הu.mi.DahH4061,tributeבְל֛וֹve.LoH1093,and customוַהֲלָ֖ךְva.ha.LakhH1983,was paidמִתְיְהֵ֥בmit.ye.HevH3052unto them.

21Giveשִׂ֣ימוּSi.muH7761ye nowכְּעַן֙ke.'AnH3705commandmentH2942to causeH989theseאִלֵּ֑ךְ'i.LekhH479menגֻּבְרַיָּ֣אguv.rai.Ya'H1400to ceaseלְבַטָּלָ֖אle.va.ta.La'H989,and that thisדָךְ֙doKhH1791cityוְקִרְיְתָ֥אve.kir.ye.Ta'H7149be notלָ֣אla'H3809buildedתִתְבְּנֵ֔אtit.be.Ne'H1124,untilעַד־'ad-H5705anothercommandmentH2941shall be givenיִתְּשָֽׂם׃yi.te.SamH7761from meמִנִּ֖יmi.NiH4481.

22Take heedוּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹu.ze.hi.Rin he.VoH2095 H1934now that ye failשָׁל֖וּsha.LuH7960not to doלְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־le.me'.Bad 'al-H5648 H5922thisדְּנָ֑הde.NahH1836:whyלְמָה֙le.MahH4101should damageחֲבָלָ֔אcha.va.La'H2257growיִשְׂגֵּ֣אyis.Ge'H7680to the hurtלְהַנְזָקַ֖תle.han.za.KatH5142of the kingsמַלְכִֽין׃ סmal.KhinH4430?

23Nowאֱדַ֗יִן'e.Da.yinH116whenמִן־min-H1768 H4481the copyפַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶןpar.She.genH6573of kingמַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka'H4430Artaxerxes’אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּ'ar.tach.shas.teH783letterנִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙nish.te.va.Na'H5407wasreadקֱרִ֧יke.RiH7123beforeקֳדָם־ko.dom-H6925Rehumרְח֛וּםre.ChumH7348,and Shimshaiוְשִׁמְשַׁ֥יve.shim.ShaiH8124the scribeסָפְרָ֖אsa.fe.Ra'H5613,and their companionsוּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹןu.khe.na.va.te.HonH3675,they went upאֲזַ֨לוּ'a.Za.luH236in hasteבִבְהִיל֤וּviv.hi.LuH924to Jerusalemלִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙li.ru.she.LemH3390untoעַל־'al-H5922the Jewsיְה֣וּדָיֵ֔אye.Hu.da.Ye'H3062,and made themהִמּ֖וֹhi.MoH1994to ceaseוּבַטִּ֥לוּu.va.Ti.luH989by forceבְּאֶדְרָ֥עbe.'ed.Ra'H153and powerוְחָֽיִל׃ סve.Cha.yilH2429.

24Thenבֵּאדַ֗יִןbe.Da.yinH116ceasedבְּטֵלַת֙be.te.LatH989the workעֲבִידַ֣ת'a.vi.DatH5673of the houseבֵּית־beit-H1005of Godאֱלָהָ֔א'e.la.Ha'H426which isat Jerusalemבִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑םbi.ru.she.LemH3390.So it ceasedוַהֲוָת֙ בָּֽטְלָ֔אva.ha.Vat ba.te.La'H989 H1934untoעַ֚ד'adH5705the secondתַּרְתֵּ֔יןtar.TeinH8648yearשְׁנַ֣תshe.NatH8140of the reignלְמַלְכ֖וּתle.mal.KhutH4437of Dariusדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.veshH1868kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4430of Persiaפָּרָֽס׃ פpa.RasH6540.

Commentaries on Ezra 4