Revised Literal Translation

Nehemiah 5

1And there was a greatגְּדוֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH1419cryצַעֲקַ֥תtza.'a.KatH6818of the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971and of their wivesוּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖םu.ne.shei.HemH802against their brethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם'a.chei.HemH251the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

2For there wereוְיֵשׁ֙ve.YeshH3426that saidאֹמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559,We, our sonsבָּנֵ֥ינוּba.Nei.nuH1121,and our daughtersוּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּu.ve.no.Tei.nuH1323, aremanyרַבִּ֑יםra.BimH7227:therefore we take upוְנִקְחָ֥הve.nik.ChahH3947grainדָגָ֖ןda.GanH1715for them,that we may eatוְנֹאכְלָ֥הve.no.khe.LahH398,and liveוְנִחְיֶֽה׃ve.nich.YehH2421.

3Somealso there wereוְיֵשׁ֙ve.YeshH3426that saidאֹמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559,We have mortgagedעֹרְבִ֑ים'o.re.VimH6148our landsשְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּse.do.Tei.nuH7704,vineyardsוּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּu.khe.ra.Mei.nuH3754,and housesוּבָתֵּ֖ינוּu.va.Tei.nuH1004,that we might buyוְנִקְחָ֥הve.nik.ChahH3947grainדָגָ֖ןda.GanH1715,because of the dearthבָּרָעָֽב׃ba.ra.'AvH7458.

4There wereוְיֵשׁ֙ve.YeshH3426also that saidאֹמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559,We have borrowedלָוִ֥ינוּla.Vi.nuH3867moneyכֶ֖סֶףKhe.sefH3701for the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428tributeלְמִדַּ֣תle.mi.DatH4060, and that uponour landsשְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּse.do.Tei.nuH7704and vineyardsוּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃u.khe.ra.Mei.nuH3754.

5Yet now our fleshכִּבְשַׂ֤רkiv.SarH1320isas the fleshבְּשָׂרֵ֔נוּbe.sa.Re.nuH1320of our brethrenאַחֵ֙ינוּ֙'a.Chei.nuH251,our childrenכִּבְנֵיהֶ֖םkiv.nei.HemH1121as their childrenבָּנֵ֑ינוּba.Nei.nuH1121:and, lo, we bring into bondageכֹ֠בְשִׁיםKhoe.shimH3533our sonsבָּנֵ֨ינוּba.Nei.nuH1121and our daughtersבְּנֹתֵ֜ינוּbe.no.Tei.nuH1323to be servantsלַעֲבָדִ֗יםla.'a.va.DimH5650, and someof our daughtersמִבְּנֹתֵ֤ינוּmi.be.no.Tei.nuH1323areוְיֵ֨שׁve.YeshH3426brought unto bondageנִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙nikh.ba.shOtH3533already: neither is itin our powerלְאֵ֣ל יָדֵ֔נוּle.'El ya.De.nuH3027 H410to redeem them;for other menלַאֲחֵרִֽים׃la.'a.che.RimH312have our landsוּשְׂדֹתֵ֥ינוּu.se.do.Tei.nuH7704and vineyardsוּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּu.khe.ra.Mei.nuH3754.

6And I was veryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966angryוַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.charH2734when I heardשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙sha.Ma'.tiH8085their cryזַֽעֲקָתָ֔םza.'a.ka.TamH2201and these wordsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםha.de.va.RimH1697.

7Then I consultedוַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְvai.yi.ma.LekhH4427with myselfלִבִּ֜יli.BiH3820,and I rebukedוָאָרִ֙יבָה֙va.'a.Ri.vahH7378the noblesהַחֹרִ֣יםha.cho.RimH2715,and the rulersהַסְּגָנִ֔יםha.se.ga.NimH5461,and saidוָאֹמְרָ֣הva.'o.me.RahH559unto them, Ye exactנֹשְׂאִיםno.SimH5375 H5383 H5378usuryמַשָּׁ֥אma.Sha'H4855,every oneאִישׁ־'ish-H376of his brotherבְּאָחִ֖יוbe.'a.ChivH251.And I setוָאֶתֵּ֥ןva.'e.TenH5414a greatגְדוֹלָֽה׃ge.do.LahH1419assemblyקְהִלָּ֥הke.hi.LahH6952against them.

8And I saidוָאֹמְרָ֣הva.'o.me.RahH559unto them, We after our abilityכְּדֵ֣יke.DeiH1767have redeemedקָ֠נִינוּKa.ni.nuH7069our brethrenאַחֵ֨ינוּ'a.Chei.nuH251the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064,which were soldהַנִּמְכָּרִ֤יםha.nim.ka.RimH4376unto the heathenלַגּוֹיִם֙la.go.YimH1471;and will ye even sellתִּמְכְּר֥וּtim.ke.RuH4376your brethrenאֲחֵיכֶ֖ם'a.chei.KhemH251?or shall they be soldוְנִמְכְּרוּ־ve.nim.ke.ru-H4376unto us? Then held they their peaceוַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּvai.ya.cha.Ri.shuH2790,and foundמָצְא֖וּma.tze.'UH4672nothingדָּבָֽר׃ סda.VarH1697to answer.

9Also I saidוָאוֹמַ֕רvai.yo.merH559, It isnot goodט֥וֹבTovH2896thatהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697ye doעֹשִׂ֑ים'o.SimH6213:ought ye not to walkH3212in the fearבְּיִרְאַ֤תbe.yir.'AtH3374of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nuH430because of the reproachמֵחֶרְפַּ֖תme.cher.PatH2781of the heathenהַגּוֹיִ֥םha.go.YimH1471our enemiesאוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃'oy.Vei.nuH341?

10I likewise, andmy brethrenאַחַ֣י'a.ChaiH251,and my servantsוּנְעָרַ֔יu.ne.'a.RaiH5288,might exactנֹשִׁ֥יםno.ShimH5383of them moneyכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and grainוְדָגָ֑ןve.da.GanH1715:I pray you, let us leave offנַֽעַזְבָה־na.'az.vah-H5800this usuryהַמַּשָּׁ֥אha.ma.Sha'H4855.

11Restoreהָשִׁיבוּ֩ha.shi.VuH7725,I pray you, to them, even this dayכְּהַיּ֗וֹםke.hai.YomH3117,their landsשְׂדֹתֵיהֶ֛םse.do.tei.HemH7704,their vineyardsכַּרְמֵיהֶ֥םkar.mei.HemH3754,their oliveyardsזֵיתֵיהֶ֖םzei.tei.HemH2132,and their housesוּבָתֵּיהֶ֑םu.va.tei.HemH1004,also the hundredthוּמְאַ֨תu.me.'AtH3967partof the moneyהַכֶּ֤סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701,and of the grainוְהַדָּגָן֙ve.ha.da.GanH1715,the wineהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁha.ti.Ro.oshH8492,and the oilוְהַיִּצְהָ֔רve.hai.yitz.HarH3323,that ye exactנֹשִׁ֥יםno.ShimH5383of them.

12Then saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559they, We will restoreנָשִׁ֗יבna.ShivH7725them,and will requireנְבַקֵּ֔שׁne.va.KeshH1245nothing of them; so will we doנַעֲשֶׂ֔הna.'a.SehH6213as thou sayestאוֹמֵ֑ר'o.MerH559.Then I calledוָאֶקְרָא֙va.'ek.Ra'H7121the priestsהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםha.Ko.ha.NimH3548,and took an oathוָֽאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔םva.'ash.bi.'EmH7650of them, that they should doלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתla.'a.SotH6213according to this promiseכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

13Also I shookנָעַ֗רְתִּיna.'Ar.tiH5287my lapחָצְנִ֣יcha.tze.NiH2684,and saidוָֽאֹמְרָ֡הva.'o.me.RahH559,So Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֟יםha.'E.lo.HimH430shake outיְנַעֵ֪רye.na.'ErH5287every manהָאִישׁ֩ha.'IshH376from his houseמִבֵּיתוֹ֙mi.bei.ToH1004,and from his labourוּמִ֣יגִיע֔וֹu.Mi.gi.'OH3018,that performethיָקִ֜יםya.KimH6965not this promiseהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697,even thus be he shaken outנָע֖וּרna.'UrH5287,and emptiedוָרֵ֑קva.RekH7386.And all the congregationהַקָּהָ֜לha.ka.HalH6951saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,Amenאָמֵ֗ן'a.MenH543,and praisedוַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙vay.ha.LuH1984Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068.And the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213according to this promiseכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

14Moreover from the timeמִיּ֣וֹם׀mi.YomH3117that I was appointedצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680to be their governorפֶּחָם֮pe.ChamH6346in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Judahיְהוּדָה֒ye.hu.DahH3063,from the twentiethעֶשְׂרִ֗ים'es.RimH6242yearמִשְּׁנַ֣תmi.she.NatH8141even unto the twoוּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙u.she.Ta.yimH8147and thirtiethשְׁלֹשִׁ֤יםshe.lo.ShimH7970yearשְׁנַ֨תshe.NatH8141of Artaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, that is,twelveשְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֑הshe.Teim 'es.RehH6240 H8147yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141,I and my brethrenוְאַחַ֔יve.'a.ChaiH251have not eatenאָכַֽלְתִּי׃'a.Khal.tiH398the breadלֶ֥חֶםLe.chemH3899of the governorהַפֶּ֖חָהha.Pe.chahH6346.

15But the formerהָרִאשֹׁנִ֨יםha.ri.sho.NimH7223governorsוְהַפַּחוֹת֩ve.ha.pa.chOtH6346that had beenbeforeלְפָנַ֜יle.fa.NaiH6440me were chargeableהִכְבִּ֣ידוּhikh.Bi.duH3513unto the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971,and had takenוַיִּקְח֨וּvai.yik.ChuH3947of them breadבְּלֶ֤חֶםbe.Le.chemH3899and wineוָיַ֙יִן֙va.Ya.yinH3196,besideאַחַר֙'a.CharH310fortyאַרְבָּעִ֔ים'ar.ba.'ImH705shekelsשְׁקָלִ֣יםshe.ka.LimH8255of silverכֶּֽסֶף־ke.sef-H3701;yea, evenגַּ֥םgamH1571their servantsנַעֲרֵיהֶ֖םna.'a.rei.HemH5288bare ruleשָׁלְט֣וּshal.TuH7980over the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971:but so didעָשִׂ֣יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213not I, becauseמִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.NeiH6440of the fearיִרְאַ֥תyir.'AtH3374of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430.

16Yea, also I continuedהֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּיhe.che.Zak.tiH2388in the workבִּמְלֶ֜אכֶתbim.Le.khetH4399of this wallהַחוֹמָ֤הha.cho.MahH2346,neither boughtקָנִ֑ינוּka.Ni.nuH7069we any landוְשָׂדֶ֖הve.sa.DehH7704:and all my servantsנְעָרַ֔יne.'a.RaiH5288weregatheredקְבוּצִ֥יםke.vu.TzimH6908thither unto the workהַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ha.me.la.KhahH4399.

17Moreover there wereat my tableשֻׁלְחָנִֽי׃shul.cha.NiH7979an hundredמֵאָ֧הme.'AhH3967and fiftyוַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁva.cha.mi.Shim 'IshH376 H2572of the Jewsוְהַיְּהוּדִ֨יםve.hai.ye.hu.DimH3064and rulersוְהַסְּגָנִ֜יםve.ha.se.ga.NimH5461,beside those that cameוְהַבָּאִ֥יםve.ha.ba.'ImH935unto us from among the heathenהַגּוֹיִ֥םha.go.YimH1471that areabout usסְבִיבֹתֵ֖ינוּse.vi.vo.Tei.nuH5439.

18Now thatwhich was preparedנַעֲשֶׂ֜הna.'a.SehH6213for medailyלְי֣וֹםle.YomH3117wasoneH259oxשׁ֣וֹרShorH7794andsixשֵׁשׁ־shesh-H8337choiceבְּרֻר֤וֹתbe.ru.RotH1305sheepצֹ֠אןtzonH6629;also fowlsוְצִפֳּרִים֙ve.tzi.po.RimH6833were preparedנַֽעֲשׂוּ־na.'a.su-H6213for me, and once in tenעֲשֶׂ֧רֶת'a.Se.retH6235daysיָמִ֛יםya.MimH3117storeלְהַרְבֵּ֑הle.har.BehH7235of all sorts of wineיַ֖יִןYa.yinH3196:yet for allוְעִם־ve.'im-H5973this requiredבִקַּ֔שְׁתִּיvi.Kash.tiH1245not I the breadלֶ֤חֶםLe.chemH3899of the governorהַפֶּחָה֙ha.pe.ChahH6346,because the bondageהָעֲבֹדָ֖הha.'a.vo.DahH5656was heavyכָֽבְדָ֥הkha.ve.DahH3513upon this peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971.

19Thinkזָכְרָה־za.khe.rah-H2142upon me, my Godאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430,for goodלְטוֹבָ֑הle.to.VahH2896, accordingto all that I have doneעָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213for this peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 5