Revised Literal Translation

Nehemiah 6

1Now it came to pass, when Sanballatלְסַנְבַלַּ֣טle.san.va.LatH5571,and Tobiahוְ֠טוֹבִיָּהVe.toi.yahH2900,and Geshemוּלְגֶ֨שֶׁםu.le.Ge.shemH1654the Arabianהָֽעַרְבִ֜יha.'ar.ViH6163,and the restוּלְיֶ֣תֶרu.le.Ye.terH3499of our enemiesאֹֽיְבֵ֗ינוּ'o.ye.Vei.nuH341,heardנִשְׁמַ֣עnish.Ma'H8085that I had buildedבָנִ֙יתִי֙va.Ni.tiH1129the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346, and thatthere was no breachפָּ֑רֶץPa.retzH6556leftנ֥וֹתַרNo.tarH3498therein; (thoughגַּ֚ם עַד־gam 'ad-H5704 H1571at that timeהָעֵ֣תha.'EtH6256I had not set upהֶעֱמַ֥דְתִּיhe.'e.Mad.tiH5975the doorsדְּלָת֖וֹתde.la.TotH1817upon the gatesבַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃va.she.'a.RimH8179;)

2That Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֤טsan.va.LatH5571and Geshemוְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ve.Ge.shemH1654sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971unto me, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,ComeH3212,let us meetוְנִֽוָּעֲדָ֥הve.ni.va.'a.DahH3259togetherיַחְדָּ֛וyach.DavH3162in some one ofthe villagesבַּכְּפִירִ֖יםba.ke.fi.RimH3715in the plainבְּבִקְעַ֣תbe.vik.'AtH1237of Onoאוֹנ֑וֹ'o.NoH207.But they thoughtחֹֽשְׁבִ֔יםcho.she.VimH2803to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213me mischiefרָעָֽה׃ra.'AhH7451.

3And I sentוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֨הva.'esh.le.ChahH7971messengersמַלְאָכִים֙mal.'a.KhimH4397unto them, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, I amdoingעֹשֶׂ֔ה'o.SehH6213a greatגְדוֹלָה֙ge.do.LahH1419workמְלָאכָ֤הme.la.KhahH4399,so that I cannotאוּכַ֖ל'u.KhalH3201come downלָרֶ֑דֶתla.Re.detH3381:why should the workהַמְּלָאכָה֙ha.me.la.KhahH4399ceaseתִשְׁבַּ֤תtish.BatH7673,whilstכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834I leaveאַרְפֶּ֔הָ'ar.Pe.haH7503it, and come downוְיָרַדְתִּ֖יve.ya.rad.TiH3381to you?

4Yet they sentוַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971unto me fourאַרְבַּ֣ע'ar.Ba'H702timesפְּעָמִ֑יםpe.'a.MimH6471after this sortכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697;and I answeredוָאָשִׁ֥יבva.'a.ShivH7725them after the same mannerכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.

5Then sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.LachH7971Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֜טsan.va.LatH5571his servantנַעֲר֑וֹna.'a.RoH5288unto me in like mannerכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697the fifthחֲמִישִׁ֖יתcha.mi.ShitH2549timeפַּ֥עַםPa.'amH6471with an openפְּתוּחָ֖הpe.tu.ChahH6605letterוְאִגֶּ֥רֶתve.'i.Ge.retH107in his handבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027;

6Wherein waswrittenכָּת֣וּבka.TuvH3789,It is reportedנִשְׁמָע֙nish.Ma'H8085among the heathenבַּגּוֹיִ֤םba.go.YimH1471,and Gashmuוְגַשְׁמ֣וּve.gash.MuH1654saithאֹמֵ֔ר'o.MerH559it, thatthou and the Jewsוְהַיְּהוּדִים֙ve.hai.ye.hu.DimH3064thinkחֹשְׁבִ֣יםcho.she.VimH2803to rebelלִמְר֔וֹדlim.RodH4775:for which causeכֵּ֛ןkenH3651thou buildestבוֹנֶ֖הvo.NehH1129the wallהַחוֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346,that thou mayest beהֹוֶ֤הho.VehH1933their kingלְמֶ֔לֶךְle.Me.lekhH4428,according to these wordsכַּדְּבָרִ֖יםka.de.va.RimH1697.

7And thou hast also appointedהֶעֱמַ֣דְתָּhe.'e.Mad.taH5975prophetsנְבִיאִ֡יםne.vi.'ImH5030to preachלִקְרֹא֩lik.Ro'H7121of thee at Jerusalemבִֽירוּשָׁלִַ֜םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, There isa kingמֶ֚לֶךְMe.lekhH4428in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֔הbi.hu.DahH3063:and now shall it be reportedיִשָּׁמַ֣עyi.sha.Ma'H8085to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428according to these wordsכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםka.de.va.RimH1697.ComeH3212now therefore, and let us take counselוְנִֽוָּעֲצָ֖הve.ni.va.'a.TzahH3289togetherיַחְדָּֽו׃ סyach.DavH3162.

8Then I sentוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֤הva.'esh.le.ChahH7971unto him, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,There areH1961no such thingsכַּדְּבָרִ֣יםka.de.va.RimH1697doneH1961as thou sayestאוֹמֵ֑ר'o.MerH559,but thou feignestבוֹדָֽאם׃vo.DamH908them out of thine own heartמִֽלִּבְּךָ֖mi.li.be.KhaH3820.

9For they all made us afraidמְיָֽרְאִ֤יםme.ya.re.'ImH3372,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Their handsיְדֵיהֶ֛םye.dei.HemH3027shall be weakenedיִרְפּ֧וּyir.PuH7503from the workהַמְּלָאכָ֖הha.me.la.KhahH4399,that it be not doneתֵעָשֶׂ֑הte.'a.SehH6213. Now therefore, O God,strengthenחַזֵּ֥קcha.ZekH2388my handsיָדָֽי׃ya.DaiH3027.

10Afterward I cameבָ֗אתִיVa.tiH935unto the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Shemaiahשְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧הshe.ma'.YahH8098the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Delaiahדְּלָיָ֛הde.la.YahH1806the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Mehetabeelמְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖לme.hei.tav.'ElH4105, who wasshut upעָצ֑וּר'a.TzurH6113;and he saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Let us meet togetherנִוָּעֵד֩ni.va.'EdH3259in the houseבֵּ֨יתbeitH1004of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֜יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,withinתּ֣וֹךְTokhH8432the templeהַֽהֵיכָ֗לha.hei.KhalH1964,and let us shutוְנִסְגְּרָה֙ve.nis.ge.RahH5462the doorsדַּלְת֣וֹתdal.TotH1817of the templeהַהֵיכָ֔לha.hei.KhalH1964:for they will comeבָּאִ֣יםba.'ImH935to slayלְהָרְגֶ֔ךָle.ha.re.Ge.khaH2026thee; yea, in the nightוְלַ֖יְלָהve.Lay.lahH3915will they comeבָּאִ֥יםba.'ImH935to slayלְהָרְגֶֽךָ׃le.ha.re.Ge.khaH2026thee.

11And I saidוָאֹמְרָ֗הva.'o.me.RahH559,Should suchH3644a manהַאִ֤ישׁha.'IshH376as I fleeיִבְרָ֔חyiv.RachH1272? and who is there, that, being as I am,would goיָב֥וֹאya.Vo'H935into the templeהַהֵיכָ֖לha.hei.KhalH1964to save his lifeH2425?I will not go inאָבֽוֹא׃'a.Vo'H935.

12And, lo, I perceivedוָאַכִּ֕ירָהva.'a.Ki.rahH5234that Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430had not sentשְׁלָח֑וֹshe.la.ChoH7971him; but that he pronouncedדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696this prophecyהַנְּבוּאָה֙ha.ne.vu.'AhH5016against me: for Tobiahוְטוֹבִיָּ֥הve.toi.YahH2900and Sanballatוְסַנְבַלַּ֖טve.san.va.LatH5571had hiredשְׂכָרֽוֹ׃se.kha.RoH7936him.

13Therefore washe hiredשָׂכוּר֙sa.KhurH7936,that I should be afraidאִירָ֥א'i.Ra'H3372,and do soוְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ve.'e.'e.seh-H6213,and sinוְחָטָ֑אתִיve.cha.Ta.tiH2398, and that they might have matterfor an evilרָ֔עRa'H7451reportלְשֵׁ֣םle.ShemH8034,that they might reproachיְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃ פye.Cha.re.Fu.niH2778me.

14My Godאֱלֹהַ֛י'e.lo.HaiH430,thinkזָכְרָ֧הza.khe.RahH2142thou upon Tobiahלְטוֹבִיָּ֥הle.toi.YahH2900and Sanballatוּלְסַנְבַלַּ֖טu.le.san.va.LatH5571according to these their worksכְּמַעֲשָׂ֣יוke.ma.'a.SavH4639,and on the prophetessהַנְּבִיאָה֙ha.ne.vi.'AhH5031Noadiahלְנוֹעַדְיָ֤הle.no.'ad.YahH5129,and the restוּלְיֶ֣תֶרu.le.Ye.terH3499of the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֔יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030,that would have put me in fearמְיָֽרְאִ֥יםme.ya.re.'ImH3372.

15So the wallהַֽחוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346was finishedוַתִּשְׁלַם֙va.tish.LamH7999in the twentyבְּעֶשְׂרִ֥יםbe.'es.RimH6242and fifthוַחֲמִשָּׁ֖הva.cha.mi.ShahH2568day of the monthElulלֶאֱל֑וּלle.'e.LulH435,in fiftyלַחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםla.cha.mi.ShimH2572and twoוּשְׁנַ֖יִםu.she.Na.yimH8147daysיֽוֹם׃ פYomH3117.

16And it came to pass, that when all our enemiesא֣וֹיְבֵ֔ינוּ'oy.Vei.nuH341heardשָֽׁמְעוּ֙sha.me.'UH8085thereof,and all the heathenהַגּוֹיִם֙ha.go.YimH1471that wereabout usסְבִֽיבֹתֵ֔ינוּse.vi.vo.Tei.nuH5439sawH7200these things,they were muchמְאֹ֖דme.'OdH3966cast downוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307in their own eyesבְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑םbe.'ei.nei.HemH5869:for they perceivedוַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּvai.Ye.de.'UH3045that this workהַמְּלָאכָ֥הha.me.la.KhahH4399was wroughtנֶעֶשְׂתָ֖הne.'es.TahH6213of our Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430.

17Moreover in those daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117the noblesחֹרֵ֤יcho.ReiH2715of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063sentהוֹלְכ֖וֹתhol.KhotH1980manyמַרְבִּ֞יםmar.BimH7235lettersאִגְּרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם'i.ge.Ro.tei.HemH107unto Tobiahטוֹבִיָּ֑הtoi.YahH2900, and the lettersof Tobiahלְטוֹבִיָּ֖הle.toi.YahH2900cameבָּא֥וֹתba.'otH935unto them.

18For there weremanyרַבִּ֣יםra.BimH7227in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֗הbi.hu.DahH3063swornבַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁבוּעָה֙ba.'a.Lei she.vu.'AhH7621 H1167unto him, because he wasthe son in lawחָתָ֥ןcha.TanH2860of Shechaniahלִשְׁכַנְיָ֣הlish.khan.YahH7935the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Arahאָרַ֑ח'a.RachH733;and his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121Johananוִֽיהוֹחָנָ֣ןvi.ho.cha.NanH3076had takenלָקַ֕חla.KachH3947the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Meshullamמְשֻׁלָּ֖םme.shu.LamH4918the sonבֶּ֥ןbenH1121of Berechiahבֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה׃Be.rekh.YahH1296.

19Also they reportedאֹמְרִים֙'o.me.RimH559his good deedsטוֹבֹתָ֗יוto.o.TavH2896beforeלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440me, and utteredמוֹצִיאִ֖יםmo.tzi.'ImH3318my wordsוּדְבָרַ֕יu.de.va.RaiH1697to him. AndTobiahטוֹבִיָּ֖הtoi.YahH2900sentשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971lettersאִגְּר֛וֹת'i.ge.RotH107to put me in fearלְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי׃le.Ya.re.'E.niH3372.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 6