TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 5
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Then the Neviim, Chagai the Navi and Zecharya son of Ido, prophesied to the Yehudim in Yehuda and Yerushalayim, inspired by the God of Yisrael.
v'-hit-na-BEE cha-GAI (ne-vee-YAH) [ne-vee-YA] u-ze-khar-YAH bar-i-DO-a ne-vee-YA-YA al y'-hu-da-YA di vi-HUd u-vi-ru-sh'-LEM b'-shum e-LAH yis-ra-AYL a-le-HON.
אוְהִתְנַבִּ֞י חַגַּ֣י (נביאה) [נְבִיָּ֗א] וּזְכַרְיָ֤ה בַר־עִדּוֹא֙ נְבִיַּאיָּ֔א עַל־יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א דִּ֥י בִיה֖וּד וּבִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּשֻׁ֛ם אֱלָ֥הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֲלֵיהֽוֹן׃
2Thereupon Zerubavel son of Shealtiel and Yeshua son of Yotzadak began rebuilding the House of Hashem in Yerushalayim, with the full support of the Neviim of Hashem.
bay-DA-yin KA-mu z'-ru-ba-VEL bar sh'-al-tee-AYL v'-yay-SHU-a bar yo-tza-DAK v'-sha-REEV l'-miv-NAY BAYT e-la-HA DEE vee-ru-sh'-LEM v'-i-m'-HON n'-vi-ya-YA dee e-la-HA m'-sa-a-DEEN l'-HON
בבֵּאדַ֡יִן קָ֠מוּ זְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל בַּר־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙ וְיֵשׁ֣וּעַ בַּר־יֽוֹצָדָ֔ק וְשָׁרִ֣יו לְמִבְנֵ֔א בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְעִמְּה֛וֹן נְבִיַּאיָּ֥א דִֽי־אֱלָהָ֖א מְסָעֲדִ֥ין לְהֽוֹן׃
5:2 With the full support of the Neviim of Hashem

Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (1858-1922)
Starting with chapter 4, verse 8, the language of Sefer Ezra switches from Hebrew to Aramaic. However, the Neviim of the time, Chagai, Zecharya and Malachi, address the nation exclusively in Hebrew. The Jewish people have been exiled to every corner of the world and, in the process, have learned many different languages. This is as true in the modern Diaspora as it was during the Babylonian and Persian eras. And yet, with the minor exceptions of the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra, the Tanakh was written entirely in Hebrew. Although the Jews spoke other languages, Hebrew remained their essential language. Even if they did not speak it for everyday matter, it continued to be the language used for prayer and study, connecting to Hashem.. The fact that Hebrew is again the vibrant and dynamic language of communication in contemporary Israel should not be underestimated. The revival of Hebrew as a spoken language in the 19th century, due largely to the efforts of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, is as miraculous as the survival of the Hebrew people themselves. As Shimon Peres, former president of Israel, pointed out, “None in the Middle East speak their original language, except for Israel.”
3At once Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues descended upon them and said this to them, “Who issued orders to you to rebuild this house and complete its furnishing?”
be-ha-ZIM-na a-TAH a-LE-hon tat-NAI pa-KHAT a-var-na-HA u-she-TAR boz-NAI u-k'-na-va-te-HON, ve-KEN a-m'-REEN le-HOM man-SAM le-KHOM t'-EM ba-Y'-ta d'-NAH li-b'-NE-a u-shar-NA d'-NAH le-shakh-la-LAH.
גבֵּהּ־זִמְנָא֩ אֲתָ֨ה עֲלֵיה֜וֹן תַּ֠תְּנַ֠י פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה וּשְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן וְכֵן֙ אָמְרִ֣ין לְהֹ֔ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לִבְּנֵ֔א וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃
4Then we said to them, “What are the names of the men who are engaged in the building?”
e-da-YIN k'-NE-ma a-mar-NA l'-HOM man-i-NUN sh'-ma-HAT guv-ra-YA di-d'-NA b'-ny'-NA ba-NA-yin
דאֱדַ֥יִן כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־אִנּוּן֙ שְׁמָהָ֣ת גֻּבְרַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־דְנָ֥ה בִנְיָנָ֖א בָּנַֽיִן׃
5But Hashem watched over the elders of the Yehudim and they were not stopped while a report went to Darius and a letter was sent back in reply to it.
v'-EYN e-la-ha-HOM ha-VAT al-sa-VEI y'-hu-DA-yay v'-la-ba-TI-lu hi-MO ad-ta-MA l'-dar-YA-vaysh y'-HAKH v'-e-da-YAN ye-tee-VUN nish-te-VA-na al-de-NAH.
הוְעֵ֣ין אֱלָהֲהֹ֗ם הֲוָת֙ עַל־שָׂבֵ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֔א וְלָא־בַטִּ֣לוּ הִמּ֔וֹ עַד־טַעְמָ֖א לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ יְהָ֑ךְ וֶאֱדַ֛יִן יְתִיב֥וּן נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֖א עַל־דְּנָֽה׃
6This is the text of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues, the officials of Beyond the River, sent to King Darius.
par-SHE-gen i-GAR-ta di-sh'-LAKH tat-NAI, pa-KHAT a-var-na-ha-RAH u-sh'-TAR boz-NAI u-k'-na-va-TEH a-far-s'-KHA-yeh di ba-a-var na-ha-RAH, al da-rya-VEH mal-KA
ופַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִ֠גַּרְתָּ֠א דִּֽי־שְׁלַ֞ח תַּתְּנַ֣י ׀ פַּחַ֣ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֗ה וּשְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּכְנָ֣וָתֵ֔הּ אֲפַ֨רְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה עַל־דָּרְיָ֖וֶשׁ מַלְכָּֽא׃
7They sent a message to him and this is what was written in it: “To King Darius, greetings, and so forth.
pit-GA-ma sh'-la-KHU a-lo-HI, v'-khid-NAH ki-TIV b'-ga-VEH l'-dar-YA-vesh mal-KA sh'-la-MA kol-LA. (s)
זפִּתְגָמָ֖א שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֑וֹהִי וְכִדְנָה֙ כְּתִ֣יב בְּגַוֵּ֔הּ לְדָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א שְׁלָמָ֥א כֹֽלָּא׃
8Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Yehuda, to the house of the great Hashem. It is being rebuilt of hewn stone, and wood is being laid in the walls. The work is being done with dispatch and is going well.
Y'-di-AH le-he-VEH le-mal-KA di-a-ZAL-NA li-Y'-HUD me-diN-TA le-VEIT e-la-HA ra-BA v'-HU mit-B'-NEH e-VEN ge-LAL v'-A-a mit-SAAM b'-kut-la-YA va-a-VID-ta DAKH as-paR-NA mit-aV-DA u-matz-LAkh b'-yeD-HOM.
חיְדִ֣יעַ ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֗א דִּֽי־אֲזַ֜לְנָא לִיה֤וּד מְדִֽינְתָּא֙ לְבֵית֙ אֱלָהָ֣א רַבָּ֔א וְה֤וּא מִתְבְּנֵא֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּלָ֔ל וְאָ֖ע מִתְּשָׂ֣ם בְּכֻתְלַיָּ֑א וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא דָ֛ךְ אׇסְפַּ֥רְנָא מִתְעַבְדָ֖א וּמַצְלַ֥ח בְּיֶדְהֹֽם׃
9Thereupon we directed this question to these elders, ‘Who issued orders to you to rebuild this house and to complete its furnishings?'
e-da-YAN sh'-e-l'-NA l'-sa-VA-ya IL-lekh, k'-NE-ma a-mar-NA l'-HOM, man-SAM l'-KOM t'-AYM ba-Y'-ta DE-na l'-miv-N'-ya, u-sh'-a-r'-NA DE-na l'-shakh-la-LAH
טאֱדַ֗יִן שְׁאֵ֙לְנָא֙ לְשָׂבַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֔ךְ כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃
10We also asked their names so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.
v'-af sh'-ma-ha-TOHM sh'-e-EL-na l'-HOM l'-ho-da-U-takh, dee nikh-TOOV shum-guv-ra-YA dee b'-ra-SHE-hom. (P)
יוְאַ֧ף שְׁמָהָתְהֹ֛ם שְׁאֵ֥לְנָא לְּהֹ֖ם לְהוֹדָעוּתָ֑ךְ דִּ֛י נִכְתֻּ֥ב שֻׁם־גֻּבְרַיָּ֖א דִּ֥י בְרָאשֵׁיהֹֽם׃
11This is what they answered us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; we are rebuilding the house that was originally built many years ago; a great king of Yisrael built it and completed it.
u-k'-NE-ma pit-GA-ma ha-ti-VU-na l'-me-MAR a-na-KH'-na hi-MO av-do-HI di-e-LAH sh'-MAI-a v'-ar-A-a u-va-NA-yin ba-Y'-ta di-ha-VA b'-NEH mi-ka-D'-mat DE-na sh'-NIN sa-GI-an u-ME-lekh l'-yis-ra-AYL RAV b'-na-HI v'-shakh-l'-LEH
יאוּכְנֵ֥מָא פִתְגָמָ֖א הֲתִיב֣וּנָא לְמֵמַ֑ר אֲנַ֣חְנָא הִמּ֡וֹ עַבְד֩וֹהִי֩ דִֽי־אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜א וְאַרְעָ֗א וּבָנַ֤יִן בַּיְתָא֙ דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨א בְנֵ֜ה מִקַּדְמַ֤ת דְּנָה֙ שְׁנִ֣ין שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן וּמֶ֤לֶךְ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רַ֔ב בְּנָ֖הִי וְשַׁכְלְלֵֽהּ׃
12But because our fathers angered the God of Heaven, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who demolished this house and exiled the people to Babylon.
la-HEN min-di haR-GI-ZU a-va-HA-ta-NA le-e-LAH she-ma-YA, ye-HAV hi-MO b'-YAD ne-vu-khad-ne-TZAR, me-lekh-BA-vel (kas-DI-a) [kas-DA-a], u-va-YE-ta DE-nah SAT-reh, v'-a-MAH ha-g'-LI le-va-VEL.
יבלָהֵ֗ן מִן־דִּ֨י הַרְגִּ֤זוּ אֲבָהָתַ֙נָא֙ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א יְהַ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּיַ֛ד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל (כסדיא) [כַּסְדָּאָ֑ה] וּבַיְתָ֤ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔הּ וְעַמָּ֖ה הַגְלִ֥י לְבָבֶֽל׃
13But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus issued an order to rebuild this House of Hashem.
b'-RAM bi-SH'-nat cha-DAH l'-ko-RESH mal-KA di ba-VEL, ko-RESH mal-KA sam t'-EM bayt e-la-HA d'-NAH li-b'-NEH
יגבְּרַם֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֔ה לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֔ם בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לִבְּנֵֽא׃
14Also the silver and gold vessels of the House of Hashem that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from the temple in Yerushalayim and brought to the temple in Babylon—King Cyrus released them from the temple in Babylon to be given to the one called Sheshbatzar whom he had appointed governor.
v'-af ma-a-NAY-a di-veit-E-la-HA di da-ha-VA v'-khas-PA di ne-vu-khad-ne-TZAR ha-ne-FEK min heikh-LA di vi-ru-sh'-LEM v'-hei-VAYL hi-MO l'-heikh-LA di va-VEL ha-ne-FEK hi-MO ko-RESH mal-KA min heikh-LA di va-VEL vi-hee-VU l'-she-sh'-ba-TZAR she-MEH di fe-KHA sa-MEH
ידוְ֠אַ֠ף מָאנַיָּ֣א דִֽי־בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣ה וְכַסְפָּא֒ דִּ֣י נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּק֙ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְהֵיבֵ֣ל הִמּ֔וֹ לְהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל הַנְפֵּ֨ק הִמּ֜וֹ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗א מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וִיהִ֙יבוּ֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר שְׁמֵ֔הּ דִּ֥י פֶחָ֖ה שָׂמֵֽהּ׃
15He said to him, “Take these vessels, go, deposit them in the temple in Yerushalayim, and let the House of Hashem be rebuilt on its original site.”
va-a-MAR-leh (ELAH) [EH] ma-a-NAI-a, SEH e-ZEL-a-KHET hi-MO b'-heikh-LA di vi-ru-sh'-LEM, u-VEIT e-la-HA yit-b'-NEH al-a-t'-REH.
טווַאֲמַר־לֵ֓הּ ׀ (אלה) [אֵ֚ל] מָֽאנַיָּ֔א שֵׂ֚א אֵֽזֶל־אֲחֵ֣ת הִמּ֔וֹ בְּהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א יִתְבְּנֵ֥א עַל־אַתְרֵֽהּ׃
16That same Sheshbatzar then came and laid the foundations for the House of Hashem in Yerushalayim; and ever since then it has been under construction, but is not yet finished.'
e-da-YAN she-sh'-BATZ-ar DEKH a-TA ye-HAV u-sha-YA da-BEYT e-la-HA dee vi-ru-sh'-LEM u-min e-da-YAN v'-ad k'-AN mit-b'-NE v'-LO sh'-LEM
טזאֱדַ֙יִן֙ שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר דֵּ֔ךְ אֲתָ֗א יְהַ֧ב אֻשַּׁיָּ֛א דִּי־בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּמִן־אֱדַ֧יִן וְעַד־כְּעַ֛ן מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְלָ֥א שְׁלִֽם׃
17And now, if it please the king, let the royal archives there in Babylon be searched to see whether indeed an order had been issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this House of Hashem in Yerushalayim. May the king convey to us his pleasure in this matter.”
u-k'-AN HEN al-mal-KA tav yit-ba-KAR b'-beit gin-za-YA di-mal-KA ta-MA di b'-va-VEL HEN i-TAI di-min-KO-resh mal-KA sim t'-EM l'-min-NE b'-eit-E-la-HA dekh bi-ru-sh'-LEM u-r'-UT mal-KA al-d'-NAH yish-LAKH a-lei-NA. (P)
יזוּכְעַ֞ן הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב יִ֠תְבַּקַּ֠ר בְּבֵ֨ית גִּנְזַיָּ֜א דִּי־מַלְכָּ֣א תַמָּה֮ דִּ֣י בְּבָבֶל֒ הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־מִן־כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְמִבְנֵ֛א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דֵ֖ךְ בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּרְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה יִשְׁלַ֥ח עֲלֶֽינָא׃