Nehemiah 13 נְחֶמְיָה פרק י״ג

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Nehemiah 13 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   בַּיּוֹםin the dayהַהוּאthatנִקְרָאcalled wasבְּסֵפֶרin the book ofמֹשֶׁהMosesבְּאׇזְנֵיin the ears ofהָעָםthe peopleוְנִמְצָאand was discoveredכָּתוּבwrittenבּוֹin itאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־יָבוֹאnot shall comeעַמֹּנִיan Ammoniteוּמוֹאָבִיand a Moabiteבִּקְהַלin the assembly ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe Godעַד־עוֹלָם׃forever

   On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

2. 2

   כִּיbecauseלֹאnotקִדְּמוּthey metאֶת־בְּנֵיthe sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelבַּלֶּחֶםwith breadוּבַמָּיִםand with the waterוַיִּשְׂכֹּרand he hiredעָלָיוupon himאֶת־בִּלְעָםBalaamלְקַלְלוֹto curse itוַיַּהֲפֹךְand he overturnedאֱלֹהֵינוּour Godהַקְּלָלָהthe curseלִבְרָכָה׃into a blessing

   Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3. 3

   וַיְהִיand it came to passכְּשׇׁמְעָםwhen they heardאֶת־הַתּוֹרָהthe Lawוַיַּבְדִּילוּand dividedכׇל־עֵרֶבall mixture ofמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל׃from Israel

   Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4. 4

   וְלִפְנֵיand beforeמִזֶּהfrom hereאֶלְיָשִׁיבEliashibהַכֹּהֵןthe priestנָתוּןgivenבְּלִשְׁכַּתover the store room ofבֵּית־אֱלֹהֵינוּhouse of our Godקָרוֹבnear of kinלְטוֹבִיָּה׃to Tobiah

   And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

5. 5

   וַיַּעַשׂand he madeלוֹto himלִשְׁכָּהa roomגְדוֹלָהgreatוְשָׁםand thereהָיוּwereלְפָנִיםformerlyנֹתְנִיםwere givingאֶת־הַמִּנְחָהthe grain offeringהַלְּבוֹנָהthe frankincenseוְהַכֵּלִיםand the vesselsוּמַעְשַׂרand the tithe ofהַדָּגָןthe grainהַתִּירוֹשׁthe new wineוְהַיִּצְהָרand the fresh oilמִצְוַתthe commandments ofהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesוְהַמְשֹׁרְרִיםand the singersוְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִיםand the gatekeepersוּתְרוּמַתand the offering ofהַכֹּהֲנִים׃the priests

   And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

6. 6

   וּבְכׇל־זֶהand in all thisלֹאnotהָיִיתִיI wasבִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִםin Jerusalemכִּיforבִּשְׁנַתin the year ofשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyוּשְׁתַּיִםand twoלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּאof Artaxerxesמֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶלking of Babylonבָּאתִיwhen I cameאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingוּלְקֵץand to the end ofיָמִיםdaysנִשְׁאַלְתִּיI requested leave of absenceמִן־הַמֶּלֶךְ׃from the king

   But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

7. 7

   וָאָבוֹאand I went inלִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִםto Jerusalemוָאָבִינָהand I consideredבָרָעָהthe evil thingאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂהhe didאֶלְיָשִׁיבEliashibלְטוֹבִיָּהto Tobiahלַעֲשׂוֹתto doלוֹto himנִשְׁכָּהa roomבְּחַצְרֵיin the villages ofבֵּיתthe house ofהָאֱלֹהִים׃the God

   And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8. 8

   וַיֵּרַעwere displeased withלִיto meמְאֹדexceedinglyוָאַשְׁלִיכָהand I threwאֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵיall vessels ofבֵית־טוֹבִיָּהhouse of Tobiahהַחוּץthe outsideמִן־הַלִּשְׁכָּה׃from the room

   And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9. 9

   וָאֹמְרָהand I saidוַיְטַהֲרוּand they purifiedהַלְּשָׁכוֹתthe store roomsוָאָשִׁיבָהand I brought backשָּׁםthereכְּלֵיvessels ofבֵּיתthe house ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe Godאֶת־הַמִּנְחָהthe grain offeringוְהַלְּבוֹנָה׃and the frankincense

   Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10. 10

    וָאֵדְעָהand I perceivedכִּי־מְנָיוֹתbecause the portions ofהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesלֹאnotנִתָּנָהit had been givenוַיִּבְרְחוּand they fledאִישׁ־לְשָׂדֵהוּman of to his own fieldהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesוְהַמְשֹׁרְרִיםand the singersעֹשֵׂיdoers ofהַמְּלָאכָה׃the task

    And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

11. 11

    וָאָרִיבָהand I contendedאֶת־הַסְּגָנִיםthe officialsוָאֹמְרָהand I saidמַדּוּעַwhyנֶעֱזַבhas it been neglectedבֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִיםhouse of the Godוָאֶקְבְּצֵםand I assembled themוָאַעֲמִדֵםand I made stand themעַל־עׇמְדָם׃upon their place

    Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12. 12

    וְכׇל־יְהוּדָהand all Judahהֵבִיאוּthey broughtמַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofהַדָּגָןthe grainוְהַתִּירוֹשׁand the new wineוְהַיִּצְהָרand the fresh oilלָאוֹצָרוֹת׃for the stores

    Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13. 13

    וָאוֹצְרָהand I appointed as treasurersעַל־אוֹצָרוֹתupon treasuresשֶׁלֶמְיָהShelemiahהַכֹּהֵןthe priestוְצָדוֹקand Zadokהַסּוֹפֵרthe scribeוּפְדָיָהand Pedaiahמִן־הַלְוִיִּםfrom the Levitesוְעַל־יָדָםand upon themחָנָןHananבֶּן־זַכּוּרson of Zaccurבֶּן־מַתַּנְיָהson of Mattaniahכִּיforנֶאֱמָנִיםfaithfulנֶחְשָׁבוּare countedוַעֲלֵיהֶםand upon themלַחֲלֹקto distributeלַאֲחֵיהֶם׃to their brethren

    And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

14. 14

    זׇכְרָה־לִּיremember meאֱלֹהַיmy Godעַל־זֹאתupon thisוְאַל־תֶּמַחand do not wipe outחֲסָדַיmy merciesאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשִׂיתִיI madeבְּבֵיתin the house ofאֱלֹהַיmy Godוּבְמִשְׁמָרָיו׃and in its services

    Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

15. 15

    בַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵמָּהthoseרָאִיתִיI sawבִיהוּדָהagainst Judahדֹּרְכִים־גִּתּוֹתsome who trod wine pressesבַּשַּׁבָּתon the sabbathוּמְבִיאִיםand bringingהָעֲרֵמוֹתthe heapsוְעֹמְסִיםand some who loaded themעַל־הַחֲמֹרִיםupon the donkeysוְאַף־יַיִןand yet wineעֲנָבִיםgrapesוּתְאֵנִיםand figsוְכׇל־מַשָּׂאand all the burden ofוּמְבִיאִיםand bringingיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemבְּיוֹםin the day ofהַשַּׁבָּתthe sabbathוָאָעִידand witnessedבְּיוֹםin the day ofמִכְרָםthey soldצָיִד׃victuals

    In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

16. 16

    וְהַצֹּרִיםand the Tyriansיָשְׁבוּdweltבָהּin itמְבִיאִיםwere bringingדָּאגfishוְכׇל־מֶכֶרand all merchandiseוּמוֹכְרִיםand sellingבַּשַּׁבָּתon the sabbathלִבְנֵיunto the sons ofיְהוּדָהJudahוּבִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃and in Jerusalem

    There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17. 17

    וָאָרִיבָהand I contendedאֵת־חֹרֵיthe nobles ofיְהוּדָהJudahוָאֹמְרָהand I saidלָהֶםto themמָה־הַדָּבָרwhat is the thingהָרָעthat which is evilהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתֶּםyou areעֹשִׂיםwhich actוּמְחַלְּלִיםand are profaningאֶת־יוֹםthe day ofהַשַּׁבָּת׃the sabbath

    Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

18. 18

    הֲלוֹאis it notכֹהthusעָשׂוּthey didאֲבֹתֵיכֶםyour fathersוַיָּבֵאand he broughtאֱלֹהֵינוּour Godעָלֵינוּover usאֵת־כׇּל־הָרָעָהall the evilהַזֹּאתthisוְעַלand uponהָעִירthe cityהַזֹּאתthisוְאַתֶּםand youמוֹסִיפִיםare increasingחָרוֹןthe severity ofעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵלupon Israelלְחַלֵּלby profaningאֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת׃the sabbath

    Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19. 19

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכַּאֲשֶׁרasצָלְלוּbegan to be darkשַׁעֲרֵיthe gates ofיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemלִפְנֵיbeforeהַשַּׁבָּתthe sabbathוָאֹמְרָהand I saidוַיִּסָּגְרוּand they were shut upהַדְּלָתוֹתthe doorsוָאֹמְרָהand I saidאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotיִפְתָּחוּםthey will open themעַדuntilאַחַרafterהַשַּׁבָּתthe sabbathוּמִנְּעָרַיand some of my servantsהֶעֱמַדְתִּיI appointedעַל־הַשְּׁעָרִיםupon the gatesלֹא־יָבוֹאnot shall comeמַשָּׂאthe burden ofבְּיוֹםin the day ofהַשַּׁבָּת׃the sabbath

    And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20. 20

    וַיָּלִינוּand murmuredהָרֹכְלִיםthe tradersוּמֹכְרֵיand the sellers ofכׇל־מִמְכָּרall a thing soldמִחוּץwithoutלִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִםto Jerusalemפַּעַםonceוּשְׁתָּיִם׃and two times

    So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21. 21

    וָאָעִידָהand I warnedבָהֶםamong themוָאֹמְרָהand I saidאֲלֵיהֶםto themמַדּוּעַwhyאַתֶּםyou areלֵנִיםpassing the nightנֶגֶדagainstהַחוֹמָהthe wallאִם־תִּשְׁנוּif you will do it againיָדhandsאֶשְׁלַחshall I sendבָּכֶםin youמִן־הָעֵתfrom the timeהַהִיאthatלֹא־בָאוּhave not comeבַּשַּׁבָּת׃on the sabbath

    Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

22. 22

    וָאֹמְרָהand I saidלַלְוִיִּםto the Levitesאֲשֶׁרwhichיִהְיוּshall beמִטַּהֲרִיםpurifying themselvesוּבָאִיםand cameשֹׁמְרִיםthe ones who keepהַשְּׁעָרִיםthe gatesלְקַדֵּשׁto consecrateאֶת־יוֹםthe day ofהַשַּׁבָּתthe sabbathגַּם־זֹאתalso thisזׇכְרָה־לִּיremember meאֱלֹהַיmy Godוְחוּסָהand have mercyעָלַיupon meכְּרֹבaccording to the multitude ofחַסְדֶּךָ׃your lovingkindness

    And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

23. 23

    גַּםalsoבַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵםthoseרָאִיתִיI sawאֶת־הַיְּהוּדִיםthe Jewsהֹשִׁיבוּthey had marriedנָשִׁיםwomen(אשדודיות)[אַשְׁדֳּדִיּוֹת]Ashdodite women(עמוניות)[עַמֳּנִיּוֹת]Ammonite womenמוֹאֲבִיּוֹת׃Moabite women

    In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

24. 24

    וּבְנֵיהֶםand their sonsחֲצִיhalfמְדַבֵּרspeaksאַשְׁדּוֹדִיתAshdoditeוְאֵינָםand they could notמַכִּירִיםwere recognizingלְדַבֵּרto speakיְהוּדִיתJudeanוְכִלְשׁוֹןand according to the language ofעַםpeopleוָעָם׃and people

    And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

25. 25

    וָאָרִיבtherefore I contendedעִמָּםwith themוָאֲקַלְלֵםand I cursed themוָאַכֶּהand struck Iמֵהֶםof themאֲנָשִׁיםmenוָאֶמְרְטֵםand I pulled out beard theirוָאַשְׁבִּיעֵםand I made swear an oath themבֵּאלֹהִיםin Godאִם־תִּתְּנוּif you should renderבְנֹתֵיכֶםyour daughtersלִבְנֵיהֶםto their sonsוְאִם־תִּשְׂאוּand if you takeמִבְּנֹתֵיהֶםsome of their daughtersלִבְנֵיכֶםyour sonsוְלָכֶם׃and to you

    And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

26. 26

    הֲלוֹאis it notעַל־אֵלֶּהupon theseחָטָא־שְׁלֹמֹהhas committed Solomonמֶלֶךְthe king ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוּבַגּוֹיִםand among the nationsהָרַבִּיםthe manyלֹא־הָיָהnot wasמֶלֶךְthe king ofכָּמֹהוּlike himוְאָהוּבand belovedלֵאלֹהָיוto his Godהָיָהwasוַיִּתְּנֵהוּand delivered him upאֱלֹהִיםGodמֶלֶךְthe king ofעַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלupon all Israelגַּם־אוֹתוֹalso himהֶחֱטִיאוּthey caused to sinהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenהַנׇּכְרִיּוֹת׃the foreign

    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

27. 27

    וְלָכֶםand to youהֲנִשְׁמַעhas it been heardלַעֲשֹׂתto doאֵת־כׇּל־הָרָעָהall the evilהַגְּדוֹלָהthe greatהַזֹּאתthisלִמְעֹלby acting unfaithfullyבֵּאלֹהֵינוּagainst our Godלְהֹשִׁיבby marryingנָשִׁיםwomenנׇכְרִיּוֹת׃foreign

    Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

28. 28

    וּמִבְּנֵיand of sons ofיוֹיָדָעJoiadaבֶּן־אֶלְיָשִׁיבson of Eliashibהַכֹּהֵןthe priestהַגָּדוֹלthe greatחָתָןa son in lawלְסַנְבַלַּטby Sanballatהַחֹרֹנִיthe Horoniteוָאַבְרִיחֵהוּand I drove away himמֵעָלָי׃from me

    And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

29. 29

    זׇכְרָהrememberלָהֶםto themאֱלֹהָיmy Godעַלuponגׇּאֳלֵיthe defilings ofהַכְּהֻנָּהthe priesthoodוּבְרִיתand a covenantהַכְּהֻנָּהthe priesthoodוְהַלְוִיִּם׃and the Levites

    Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

30. 30

    וְטִהַרְתִּיםand I purified themמִכׇּל־נֵכָרfrom all strangeוָאַעֲמִידָהand I appointedמִשְׁמָרוֹתdutiesלַכֹּהֲנִיםunto the priestsוְלַלְוִיִּםand to the Levitesאִישׁa manבִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ׃in his service

    Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

31. 31

    וּלְקֻרְבַּןand for the offering ofהָעֵצִיםthe treesבְּעִתִּיםat timesמְזֻמָּנוֹתappointedוְלַבִּכּוּרִיםand for the first fruitsזׇכְרָה־לִּיremember meאֱלֹהַיmy Godלְטוֹבָה׃for good

    And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.