Revised Literal Translation

Nehemiah 2

1And it came to pass in the monthבְּחֹ֣דֶשׁbe.Cho.deshH2320Nisanנִיסָ֗ןni.SanH5212,in the twentiethעֶשְׂרִ֛ים'es.RimH6242yearשְׁנַ֥תshe.NatH8141of Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, thatwineיַ֣יִןYa.yinH3196wasbeforeלְפָנָ֑יוle.fa.NavH6440him: and I took upוָאֶשָּׂ֤אva.'e.Sa'H5375the wineהַיַּ֙יִן֙hai.Ya.yinH3196,and gaveוָאֶתְּנָ֣הva.'e.te.NahH5414itunto the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428. Now I had not been beforetimesadרַ֖עra'H7451in his presenceלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440.

2Wherefore the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559unto me, Why isthy countenanceפָּנֶ֣יךָpa.Nei.khaH6440sadרָעִ֗יםra.'ImH7451, seeing thou artnot sickחוֹלֶ֔הcho.LehH2470? this is nothing elsebut sorrowרֹ֣עַֽRo.a'H7455of heartלֵ֑בLevH3820.Then I was veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966soreהַרְבֵּ֥הhar.BehH7235afraidוָאִירָ֖אva.'i.Ra'H3372,

3And saidוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559unto the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428,Let the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428liveיִחְיֶ֑הyich.YehH2421for everלְעוֹלָ֣םle.'o.LamH5769:why should not my countenanceפָנַ֗יfa.NaiH6440be sadH3415,when the cityהָעִ֜ירha.'IrH5892,the placeבֵּית־beit-H1004of my fathers’אֲבֹתַי֙'a.vo.TaiH1sepulchresקִבְר֤וֹתkiv.RotH6913, liethwasteחֲרֵבָ֔הcha.re.VahH2720,and the gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179thereof are consumedאֻכְּל֥וּ'u.ke.LuH398with fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃ סva.'EshH784?

4Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto me, For what dost thou make requestמְבַקֵּ֑שׁme.va.KeshH1245?So I prayedוָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔לva.'et.pa.LelH6419to the Godאֱלֹהֵ֖י'e.lo.HeiH430of heavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ha.sha.Ma.yimH8064.

5And I saidוָאֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559unto the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428,If it pleaseH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and if thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֖'av.de.KhaH5650have found favourיִיטַ֥בyi.TavH3190in thy sightלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440,that thou wouldest sendתִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִיtish.la.Che.niH7971me unto Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063,unto the cityעִ֛יר'irH5892of my fathers’אֲבֹתַ֖י'a.vo.TaiH1sepulchresקִבְר֥וֹתkiv.RotH6913,that I may buildוְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃ve.'ev.Ne.nahH1129it.

6And the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559unto me, (the queenוְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל׀ve.ha.she.GalH7694also sittingיוֹשֶׁ֣בֶתyo.She.vetH3427by himאֶצְל֗וֹ'etz.LoH681,)For how long shall thy journeyמַֽהֲלָכֲךָ֖ma.ha.la.kha.KhaH4109be? and when wilt thou returnתָּשׁ֑וּבta.ShuvH7725?So it pleasedוַיִּיטַ֤ב לִפְנֵֽי־vai.yi.Tav lif.nei-H6440 H3190the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428to sendוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִיvai.yish.la.Che.niH7971me; and I setוָֽאֶתְּנָ֥הva.'e.te.NahH5414him a timeזְמָֽן׃ze.ManH2165.

7Moreover I saidוָאוֹמַר֮va.'o.MarH559unto the kingלַמֶּלֶךְ֒la.me.leKhH4428,If it pleaseH2895the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,let lettersאִגְּרוֹת֙'i.ge.rOtH107be givenיִתְּנוּ־yi.te.nu-H5414me to the governorsפַּחֲו֖וֹתpa.cha.VotH6346beyondעֵ֣בֶר'E.verH5676the riverהַנָּהָ֑רha.na.HarH5104,that they may convey me overיַעֲבִיר֔וּנִיya.'a.vi.Ru.niH5674till I comeאָב֖וֹא'a.Vo'H935into Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063;

8And a letterוְאִגֶּ֡רֶתve.'i.Ge.retH107unto Asaphאָסָף֩'a.SafH623the keeperשֹׁמֵ֨רsho.MerH8104of the king’sלַמֶּ֗לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428forestהַפַּרְדֵּ֜סha.par.DesH6508,that he may giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414me timberעֵצִ֡ים'e.TzimH6086to make beamsלְ֠קָרוֹתLe.ka.rotH7136for the gatesשַׁעֲרֵ֨יsha.'a.ReiH8179of the palaceהַבִּירָ֤הha.bi.RahH1002which appertainedto the houseלַבַּ֙יִת֙la.Ba.yitH1004,and for the wallוּלְחוֹמַ֣תu.le.cho.MatH2346of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,and for the houseוְלַבַּ֖יִתve.la.Ba.yitH1004that I shall enter intoאָב֣וֹא'a.Vo'H935.And the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428grantedוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414me, according to the goodהַטּוֹבָ֥הha.to.VahH2896handכְּיַד־ke.yad-H3027of my Godאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430upon me.

9Then I cameוָֽאָב֗וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935to the governorsפַּֽחֲווֹת֙pa.cha.VotH6346beyondעֵ֣בֶר'E.verH5676the riverהַנָּהָ֔רha.na.HarH5104,and gaveוָאֶתְּנָ֣הva.'e.te.NahH5414them the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428lettersאִגְּר֣וֹת'i.ge.RotH107.Now the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971captainsשָׂ֥רֵיSa.reiH8269of the armyחַ֖יִלCha.yilH2428and horsemenוּפָרָשִֽׁים׃ פu.fa.ra.ShimH6571with me.

10When Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֣טsan.va.LatH5571the Horoniteהַחֹרֹנִ֗יha.cho.ro.NiH2772,and Tobiahוְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ve.toi.YahH2900the servantהָעֶ֣בֶדha.'E.vedH5650,the Ammoniteהָֽעַמֹּנִ֔יha.'a.mo.NiH5984,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085of it,it grievedH3415them exceedinglyרָעָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֑הra.'Ah ge.do.LahH1419 H7451that there was comeבָּ֥אba'H935a manאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120to seekלְבַקֵּ֥שׁle.va.KeshH1245the welfareטוֹבָ֖הto.VahH2896of the childrenלִבְנֵ֥יliv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

11So I cameוָאָב֖וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,and was there threeשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃she.lo.ShahH7969daysיָמִ֥יםya.MimH3117.

12And I aroseוָאָק֣וּם׀va.'a.KumH6965in the nightלַ֗יְלָהLay.lahH3915,I and someH4592fewמְעַט֮me.'AtH4592menוַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים׀va.'a.na.ShimH582with me; neither toldהִגַּ֣דְתִּיhi.Gad.tiH5046I anymanלְאָדָ֔םle.'a.DamH120what my Godאֱלֹהַי֙'e.lo.HaiH430had putנֹתֵ֣ןno.TenH5414in my heartלִבִּ֔יli.BiH3820to doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213at Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִָ֑םli.ru.sha.LimH3389: neither was there anybeastוּבְהֵמָה֙u.ve.he.MahH929with me, save the beastהַבְּהֵמָ֔הha.be.he.MahH929that I rode uponרֹכֵ֥בro.KhevH7392.

13And I went outוָאֵצְאָ֨הva.'e.tze.'AhH3318by nightלַ֗יְלָהLay.lahH3915by the gateבְשַֽׁעַר־ve.sha.'ar-H8179of the valleyהַגַּ֜יאha.Gai'H1516,even beforeפְּנֵי֙pe.NeiH6440the dragonהַתַּנִּ֔יןha.ta.NinH8577wellעֵ֣ין'einH5886 H5869,and to the dungהָאַשְׁפֹּ֑תha.'ash.PotH830portשַׁ֖עַרSha.'arH8179,and viewedשֹׂבֵ֜רso.VerH7665 H7663the wallsבְּחוֹמֹ֤תbe.cho.MotH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389,which were broken downהֵ֣ם׀ פְּרוּצִ֔יםhemhem/ /fe.ru.tzimfe.ru.tzimH6555,and the gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179thereof were consumedאֻכְּל֥וּ'u.ke.LuH398with fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃va.'EshH784.

14Then I went onוָאֶֽעֱבֹר֙va.'e.'e.VorH5674to the gateשַׁ֣עַרSha.'arH8179of the fountainהָעַ֔יִןha.'A.yinH5869,and to the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428poolבְּרֵכַ֖תbe.re.KhatH1295: but there wasno placeמָק֥וֹםma.KomH4725for the beastלַבְּהֵמָ֖הla.be.he.MahH929that wasunder me to passלַעֲבֹ֥רla.'a.VorH5674.

15Then went I upעֹלֶ֤ה'o.LehH5927in the nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915by the brookבַנַּ֙חַל֙va.Na.chalH5158,and viewedשֹׂבֵ֖רso.VerH7665 H7663the wallבַּחוֹמָ֑הba.cho.MahH2346,and turned backוָאָשׁ֗וּבva.'a.ShuvH7725,and enteredוָאָב֛וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935by the gateבְּשַׁ֥עַרbe.Sha.'arH8179of the valleyהַגַּ֖יְאha.Gay'H1516, and soreturnedוָאָשֽׁוּב׃va.'a.ShuvH7725.

16And the rulersוְהַסְּגָנִ֗יםve.ha.se.ga.NimH5461knewיָדְעוּ֙ya.de.'UH3045not whither I wentהָלַ֔כְתִּיha.Lakh.tiH1980,or what I didעֹשֶׂ֑ה'o.SehH6213;neither had I as yetכֵּ֖ןkenH3651toldהִגַּֽדְתִּי׃hi.Gad.tiH5046itto the Jewsוְלַיְּהוּדִ֨יםve.lai.ye.hu.DimH3064,nor to the priestsוְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜יםve.la.ko.ha.NimH3548,nor to the noblesוְלַחֹרִ֣יםve.la.cho.RimH2715,nor to the rulersוְלַסְּגָנִ֗יםve.la.se.ga.NimH5461,nor to the restוּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙u.le.Ye.terH3499that didעֹשֵׂ֣ה'o.SehH6213the workהַמְּלָאכָ֔הha.me.la.KhahH4399.

17Then saidוָאוֹמַ֣רva.'o.MarH559I unto them, Ye seeרֹאִים֙ro.'ImH7200the distressהָרָעָה֙ha.ra.'AhH7451that we arein, how Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ye.ru.sha.LimH3389liethwasteחֲרֵבָ֔הcha.re.VahH2720,and the gatesוּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָu.she.'a.Rei.haH8179thereof are burnedנִצְּת֣וּni.tze.TuH3341with fireבָאֵ֑שׁva.'EshH784:comeH3212,and let us build upוְנִבְנֶה֙ve.niv.NehH1129the wallחוֹמַ֣תcho.MatH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,that we be no more a reproachחֶרְפָּֽה׃cher.PahH2781.

18Then I toldוָאַגִּ֨ידva.'a.GidH5046them of the handיַ֣דyadH3027of my Godאֱלֹהַ֗י'e.lo.HaiH430which was goodטוֹבָ֣הto.VahH2896upon me; as also the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697that he had spokenאָֽמַר־'a.mar-H559unto me. And they saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559,Let us rise upנָק֣וּםna.KumH6965and buildוּבָנִ֔ינוּu.va.Ni.nuH1129.So they strengthenedוַיְחַזְּק֥וּvay.cha.ze.KuH2388their handsיְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei.HemH3027for thisgoodלַטּוֹבָֽה׃ פla.to.VahH2896work.

19But when Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֨טsan.va.LatH5571the Horoniteהַחֹרֹנִ֜יha.cho.ro.NiH2772,and Tobiahוְטֹבִיָּ֣ה׀ve.toi.YahH2900the servantהָעֶ֣בֶדha.'E.vedH5650,the Ammoniteהָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗יha.'a.mo.NiH5984,and Geshemוְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ve.Ge.shemH1654the Arabianהָֽעַרְבִ֔יha.'ar.ViH6163,heardוַיִּשְׁמַע֩vai.yish.Ma'H8085it,they laughed us to scornוַיַּלְעִ֣גוּvai.yal.'I.guH3932,and despisedוַיִּבְז֖וּvai.yiv.ZuH959us, and saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, What isthis thingהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697that ye doעֹשִׂ֔ים'o.SimH6213?will ye rebelמֹרְדִֽים׃mo.re.DimH4775against the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428?

20Then answeredוָאָשִׁ֨יב דָּבָ֗רva.'a.Shiv da.VarH1697 H7725I them, and saidוָאוֹמַ֤רva.'o.MarH559unto them, The Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,he will prosperיַצְלִ֣יחַֽyatz.Li.achH6743us; therefore we his servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו'a.va.DavH5650will ariseנָק֣וּםna.KumH6965and buildוּבָנִ֑ינוּu.va.Ni.nuH1129:but ye have no portionחֵ֧לֶקChe.lekH2506,nor rightוּצְדָקָ֛הu.tze.da.KahH6666,nor memorialוְזִכָּר֖וֹןve.zi.ka.RonH2146,in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2