Nehemiah 2 נְחֶמְיָה פרק ב׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Nehemiah 2 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבְּחֹדֶשׁbe/CHO/deshin the month ofנִיסָןNi/SANNisanשְׁנַתshe/NATin the yearעֶשְׂרִיםes/RIMtwentyלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּאle/Ar/tach/SHAS/teof Artaxerxesהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingיַיִןYA/yinwine wasלְפָנָיוle/fa/NAYVbefore himוָאֶשָּׂאva/es/SAand I took upאֶת־הַיַּיִןet-hay/YA/yinthe wineוָאֶתְּנָהva/et/te/NAand gave itלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhto the kingוְלֹא־הָיִיתִיve/LO-ha/YI/tinow I had not beenרַעrasadלְפָנָיו׃le/fa/NAYVbefore him

   And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

2. 2

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלִיlito meהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingמַדּוּעַmad/DU/awhyפָּנֶיךָpa/NE/khais your faceרָעִיםra/IMsadוְאַתָּהve/at/TAsince youאֵינְךָe/ne/KHAare notחוֹלֶהcho/LEsickאֵיןennothingזֶהzethis isכִּי־אִםki-imbutרֹעַRO/asorrow ofלֵבlevheartוָאִירָאva/i/RAthen I was afraidהַרְבֵּהhar/BEgreatlyמְאֹד׃me/ODvery

   Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

3. 3

   וָאֹמַרva/o/MARand I saidלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhto the kingהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhlet the kingלְעוֹלָםle/o/LAMforeverיִחְיֶהyich/YEliveמַדּוּעַmad/DU/awhyלֹא־יֵרְעוּlo-yer/Ushould not be sadפָנַיfa/NAYmy faceאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhenהָעִירha/IRthe cityבֵּית־קִבְרוֹתbet-kiv/ROTthe place of the tombs ofאֲבֹתַיa/vo/TAYmy fathersחֲרֵבָהcha/re/VAlies wasteוּשְׁעָרֶיהָu/she/a/RE/haand its gatesאֻכְּלוּuk/ke/LUare consumedבָאֵשׁ׃va/ESHwith fire

   And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

4. 4

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלִיlito meהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingעַל־מַה־זֶּהal-ma-zefor whatאַתָּהat/TAyouמְבַקֵּשׁme/vak/KESHdo you requestוָאֶתְפַּלֵּלva/et/pal/LELso I prayedאֶל־אֱלֹהֵיel-e/lo/HEto the God ofהַשָּׁמָיִם׃hash/sha/MA/yimthe heavens

   Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

5. 5

   וָאֹמַרva/o/MARand I saidלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhto the kingאִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְim-al-ham/ME/lekhif to the kingטוֹבtovit seems goodוְאִם־יִיטַבve/IM-yi/TAVand if has found favorעַבְדְּךָav/de/KHAyour servantלְפָנֶיךָle/fa/NE/khain your sightאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatתִּשְׁלָחֵנִיtish/la/CHE/niyou send meאֶל־יְהוּדָהel-Ye/hu/DAto Judahאֶל־עִירel-irto the city ofקִבְרוֹתkiv/ROTthe tombs ofאֲבֹתַיa/vo/TAYmy fathersוְאֶבְנֶנָּה׃ve/ev/NEN/nathat I may build it

   And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.

6. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלִיlito meהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוְהַשֵּׁגַלve/hash/she/GALthe queen alsoיוֹשֶׁבֶתyo/SHE/vetsittingאֶצְלוֹets/LObeside himעַד־מָתַיad-ma/TAYhow longיִהְיֶהyih/YEwill beמַהֲלָכְךָma/ha/la/khe/KHAyour journeyוּמָתַיu/ma/TAYand whenתָּשׁוּבta/SHUVwill you returnוַיִּיטַבvay/yi/TAVso it pleasedלִפְנֵי־הַמֶּלֶךְlif/NE-ham/ME/lekhbefore the kingוַיִּשְׁלָחֵנִיvay/yish/la/CHE/nito send meוָאֶתְּנָהva/et/te/NAand I setלוֹloto himזְמָן׃ze/MANa time

   And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

7. 7

   וָאוֹמַרva/o/MARmoreover I saidלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhto the kingאִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְim-al-ham/ME/lekhif to the kingטוֹבtovit seems goodאִגְּרוֹתig/ge/ROTlet lettersיִתְּנוּ־לִיyit/te/NU-libe given meעַל־פַּחֲווֹתal-pa/cha/VOTto the governors ofעֵבֶרE/verbeyondהַנָּהָרhan/na/HARthe riverאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatיַעֲבִירוּנִיya/a/vi/RU/nithey may let me passעַדaduntilאֲשֶׁר־אָבוֹאa/SHER-a/VOI comeאֶל־יְהוּדָה׃el-Ye/hu/DAto Judah

   Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

8. 8

   וְאִגֶּרֶתve/ig/GE/retand a letterאֶל־אָסָףel-A/SAFto Asaphשֹׁמֵרsho/MERkeeper ofהַפַּרְדֵּסhap/par/DESthe forestאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat isלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhto the kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatיִתֶּן־לִיyit/TEN-lihe may give meעֵצִיםe/TSIMtimberלְקָרוֹתle/ka/ROTto make beams forאֶת־שַׁעֲרֵיet-sha/a/REthe gates ofהַבִּירָהhab/bi/RAthe citadelאֲשֶׁר־לַבַּיִתa/SHER-lab/BA/yitthat belongs to the houseוּלְחוֹמַתu/le/cho/MATand for the wall ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityוְלַבַּיִתve/lab/BA/yitand for the houseאֲשֶׁר־אָבוֹאa/SHER-a/VOthat I shall enterאֵלָיוe/LAYVintoוַיִּתֶּן־לִיvay/YIT/ten-liand granted meהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingכְּיַד־אֱלֹהַיke/YAD-e/lo/HAYaccording to the hand of my Godהַטּוֹבָהhat/to/VAgoodעָלָי׃a/LAYupon me

   And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

9. 9

   וָאָבוֹאva/a/VOthen I cameאֶל־פַּחֲווֹתel-pa/cha/VOTto the governors ofעֵבֶרE/verbeyondהַנָּהָרhan/na/HARthe riverוָאֶתְּנָהva/et/te/NAand gaveלָהֶםla/HEMto themאֵת־אִגְּרוֹתet-ig/ge/ROTthe letters ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHnow had sentעִמִּיim/MIwith meהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingשָׂרֵיsa/REcommanders ofחַיִלCHA/yilthe armyוּפָרָשִׁים׃u/fa/ra/SHIMand horsemen

   Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

10. 10

    וַיִּשְׁמַעvay/yish/MAwhen heardסַנְבַלַּטSan/val/LATSanballatהַחֹרֹנִיha/Cho/ro/NIthe Horoniteוְטוֹבִיָּהve/To/viy/YAand Tobiahהָעֶבֶדha/E/vedthe servantהָעַמֹּנִיha/Am/mo/NIthe Ammoniteוַיֵּרַעvay/YE/rait grievedלָהֶםla/HEMthemרָעָהra/Aevilגְדֹלָהge/do/LAgreatאֲשֶׁר־בָּאa/SHER-bathat had comeאָדָםa/DAMa manלְבַקֵּשׁle/vak/KESHto seekטוֹבָהto/VAthe welfare ofלִבְנֵיliv/NEthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

    When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

11. 11

    וָאָבוֹאva/a/VOso I cameאֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִםel-Ye/ru/sha/LA/yimto Jerusalemוָאֱהִי־שָׁםva/e/HI-shamand I was thereיָמִיםya/MIMdaysשְׁלֹשָׁה׃she/lo/SHAthree

    So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

12. 12

    וָאָקוּםva/a/KUMand I aroseלַיְלָהLAY/lain the nightאֲנִיa/NIIוַאֲנָשִׁיםva/a/na/SHIMand some menמְעַטme/ATfewעִמִּיim/MIwith meוְלֹא־הִגַּדְתִּיve/LO-hig/GAD/tiI did not tellלְאָדָםle/a/DAManyoneמָהmawhatאֱלֹהַיe/lo/HAYmy Godנֹתֵןno/TENhad putאֶל־לִבִּיel-lib/BIto my heartלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doלִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִםlI/ru/sha/LA/yimfor Jerusalemוּבְהֵמָהu/ve/he/MAnor any beastאֵיןenwas thereעִמִּיim/MIwith meכִּיkibutאִם־הַבְּהֵמָהim-hab/be/he/MAonly the beastאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאֲנִיa/NIIרֹכֵבro/KHEVrodeבָּהּ׃baon

    And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

13. 13

    וָאֵצְאָהva/ets/Aand I went outבְשַׁעַר־הַגַּיְאve/SHA/ar-hag/GAYby the gate of the valleyלַיְלָהLAY/laby nightוְאֶל־פְּנֵיve/EL-pe/NEeven beforeעֵיןenthe spring ofהַתַּנִּיןhat/tan/NINthe dragonוְאֶל־שַׁעַרve/EL-SHA/arand to the gate ofהָאַשְׁפֹּתha/ash/POTthe dungוָאֱהִיva/e/HIand I wasשֹׂבֵרso/VERinspectingבְּחוֹמֹתbe/cho/MOTthe walls ofיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemאֲשֶׁר־[הֵםa/SHER-hemthat theyפְּרוּצִים]pe/ru/TSIMwere broken down(המפרוצים)hamafaravatsayamוּשְׁעָרֶיהָu/she/a/RE/haand its gatesאֻכְּלוּuk/ke/LUwere consumedבָאֵשׁ׃va/ESHwith fire

    And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

14. 14

    וָאֶעֱבֹרva/e/e/VORthen I went onאֶל־שַׁעַרel-SHA/arto the gate ofהָעַיִןha/A/yinthe springוְאֶל־בְּרֵכַתve/EL-be/re/KHATand to the pool ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוְאֵין־מָקוֹםve/EN-ma/KOMbut there was no placeלַבְּהֵמָהlab/be/he/MAfor the beastלַעֲבֹרla/a/VORto passתַּחְתָּי׃tach/TAYunder me

    Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.

15. 15

    וָאֱהִיva/e/HIand I wasעֹלֶהo/LEgoing upבַנַּחַלvan/NA/chalby the brookלַיְלָהLAY/lain the nightוָאֱהִיva/e/HIand I wasשֹׂבֵרso/VERinspectingבַּחוֹמָהba/cho/MAthe wallוָאָשׁוּבva/a/SHUVand turned backוָאָבוֹאva/a/VOand enteredבְּשַׁעַרbe/SHA/arby the gate ofהַגַּיְאhag/GAYthe valleyוָאָשׁוּב׃va/a/SHUVand so returned

    Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.

16. 16

    וְהַסְּגָנִיםve/has/se/ga/NIMand the officialsלֹאlonotיָדְעוּya/de/UknewאָנָהA/nawhereהָלַכְתִּיha/LAKH/tiI wentוּמָהu/MAand whatאֲנִיa/NIIעֹשֶׂהo/SEwas doingוְלַיְּהוּדִיםve/Lay/ye/hu/DIMand to the Jewsוְלַכֹּהֲנִיםve/lak/ko/ha/NIMand to the priestsוְלַחֹרִיםve/la/cho/RIMand to the noblesוְלַסְּגָנִיםve/las/se/ga/NIMand to the officialsוּלְיֶתֶרu/le/YE/teror to the rest ofעֹשֵׂהo/SEwho didהַמְּלָאכָהham/me/la/KHAthe workעַד־כֵּןad-kenuntil thenלֹאlonotהִגַּדְתִּי׃hig/GAD/tihad I told

    And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.

17. 17

    וָאוֹמַרva/o/MARand I saidאֲלֵהֶםa/le/HEMto themאַתֶּםat/TEMyouרֹאִיםro/IMseeהָרָעָהha/ra/Athe distressאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאֲנַחְנוּa/NACH/nuwe areבָהּvainאֲשֶׁרa/SHERhowיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemחֲרֵבָהcha/re/VAlies wasteוּשְׁעָרֶיהָu/she/a/RE/haand its gatesנִצְּתוּnits/tse/TUare burnedבָאֵשׁva/ESHwith fireלְכוּle/KHUgoוְנִבְנֶהve/niv/NEand let us buildאֶת־חוֹמַתet-cho/MATthe wall ofיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYe/ru/sha/LA/yimJerusalemוְלֹא־נִהְיֶהve/LO-nih/YEthat we may no longer beעוֹדodmoreחֶרְפָּה׃cher/PAa reproach

    Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

18. 18

    וָאַגִּידva/ag/GIDthen I toldלָהֶםla/HEMto themאֶת־יַדet-yadthe hand ofאֱלֹהַיe/lo/HAYmy Godאֲשֶׁר־הִיאa/SHER-hiwhich wasטוֹבָהto/VAgoodעָלַיa/LAYupon meוְאַף־דִּבְרֵיve/AF-div/REand also the words ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאָמַר־לִיa/MAR-lihe had spoken to meוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidנָקוּםna/KUMlet us rise upוּבָנִינוּu/va/NI/nuand buildוַיְחַזְּקוּvay/chaz/ze/KUso they strengthenedיְדֵיהֶםye/de/HEMtheir handsלַטּוֹבָה׃lat/to/VAfor the good work

    Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

19. 19

    וַיִּשְׁמַעvay/yish/MAbut when heardסַנְבַלַּטSan/val/LATSanballatהַחֹרֹנִיha/Cho/ro/NIthe Horoniteוְטֹבִיָּהve/To/viy/YAand Tobiahהָעֶבֶדha/E/vedthe servantהָעַמּוֹנִיha/Am/mo/NIthe Ammoniteוְגֶשֶׁםve/GE/shemand Geshemהָעַרְבִיha/Ar/VIthe Arabוַיַּלְעִגוּvay/yal/I/guthey laughedלָנוּLA/nuat usוַיִּבְזוּvay/yiv/ZUand despisedעָלֵינוּa/LE/nuusוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidמָה־הַדָּבָרma-had/da/VARwhat is this thingהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatאַתֶּםat/TEMyouעֹשִׂיםo/SIMare doingהַעַלHA/alwill you againstהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאַתֶּםat/TEMyouמֹרְדִים׃mor/DIMrebel

    But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

20. 20

    וָאָשִׁיבva/a/SHIVthen I answeredאוֹתָםo/TAMthemדָּבָרda/VARwordוָאוֹמַרva/o/MARand I saidלָהֶםla/HEMto themאֱלֹהֵיe/lo/HEthe God ofהַשָּׁמַיִםhash/sha/MA/yimthe heavensהוּאhuHeיַצְלִיחַyats/LI/achwill prosperלָנוּLA/nuusוַאֲנַחְנוּva/a/NACH/nuand we areעֲבָדָיוa/va/DAYVHis servantsנָקוּםna/KUMwill ariseוּבָנִינוּu/va/NI/nuand buildוְלָכֶםve/la/KHEMbut you haveאֵין־חֵלֶקen-CHE/lekno portionוּצְדָקָהu/tse/da/KAor rightוְזִכָּרוֹןve/zik/ka/RONor memorialבִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃bI/ru/sha/LA/yimin Jerusalem

    Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.