Chapter 2

1In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, wine was set before him; I took the wine and gave it to the king—I had never been out of sorts in his presence.

vai-YA-hee b'-kho-DESH ni-SAN, sh'-NAT es-REEM l'-ar-takh-shas-ta ha-ME-lekh, ya-YIN l'-fa-NAV, va-e-SA et ha-ya-YIN va-et-NAH la-ME-lekh, v'-lo-ha-YEE-tee ra l'-fa-NAV.

אוַיְהִ֣י ׀ בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ נִיסָ֗ן שְׁנַ֥ת עֶשְׂרִ֛ים לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יַ֣יִן לְפָנָ֑יו וָאֶשָּׂ֤א אֶת־הַיַּ֙יִן֙ וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְלֹא־הָיִ֥יתִי רַ֖ע לְפָנָֽיו׃

2The king said to me, “How is it that you look bad, though you are not ill? It must be bad thoughts.” I was very frightened,

vai-YO-mer LEE ha-ME-lekh ma-DO-a pa-NE-kha ra-EEM v'-a-TAH AYN-kha kho-LEH, AYN ZEH kee-IM RO-a LEV va-a-EE-ra har-BEH me-OD

בוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ לִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מַדּ֣וּעַ ׀ פָּנֶ֣יךָ רָעִ֗ים וְאַתָּה֙ אֵֽינְךָ֣ חוֹלֶ֔ה אֵ֣ין זֶ֔ה כִּי־אִ֖ם רֹ֣עַֽ לֵ֑ב וָאִירָ֖א הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

3but I answered the king, “May the king live forever! How should I not look bad when the city of the graveyard of my ancestors lies in ruins, and its gates have been consumed by fire?”

va-o-MAR la-ME-lekh ha-ME-lekh l'-o-LAM yikh-YEH ma-DU-a lo-yer-U fa-NAI a-SHER ha-IR beit-kiv-ROT a-vo-TAI kha-RE-vah u-she-a-RE-ha u-KE-lu va-ESH

גוָאֹמַ֣ר לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִחְיֶ֑ה מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־יֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָעִ֜יר בֵּית־קִבְר֤וֹת אֲבֹתַי֙ חֲרֵבָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

4The king said to me, “What is your request?” With a prayer to the God of Heaven,

vai-YO-mer LEE ha-ME-lekh al-MAH-zeh a-TAH me-va-KEH va-a-TE-fa-LEL el e-lo-HEY ha-sha-MA-yim

דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לִי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַל־מַה־זֶּ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

5I answered the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Yehuda, to the city of my ancestors' graves, to rebuild it.”

va-o-MAR la-ME-lekh, im al ha-ME-lekh TOV, v'-im yi-TAV av-D'-kha l'-fa-NE-kha, a-SHER tish-la-KHE-ni el y'-hu-DAH, el iR kiv-ROT a-vo-TAI v'-ev-NE-na

הוָאֹמַ֣ר לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב וְאִם־יִיטַ֥ב עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְפָנֶ֑יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר תִּשְׁלָחֵ֣נִי אֶל־יְהוּדָ֗ה אֶל־עִ֛יר קִבְר֥וֹת אֲבֹתַ֖י וְאֶבְנֶֽנָּה׃

6With the consort seated at his side, the king said to me, “How long will you be gone and when will you return?” So it was agreeable to the king to send me, and I gave him a date.

vai-YO-mer LEE ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-she-GAL yo-SHE-vet etz-LO ad ma-TAI yi-HEH ma-ha-LAKH-kha u-ma-TAI ta-SHUUV vai-YI-tav lif-NEI ha-ME-lekh vai-YISH-la-KHE-ni va-a-TE-na LO ze-MAN

ווַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ לִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל ׀ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת אֶצְל֗וֹ עַד־מָתַ֛י יִהְיֶ֥ה מַֽהֲלָכְךָ֖ וּמָתַ֣י תָּשׁ֑וּב וַיִּיטַ֤ב לִפְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֔נִי וָֽאֶתְּנָ֥ה ל֖וֹ זְמָֽן׃

7Then I said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters to the governors of the province of Beyond the River, directing them to grant me passage until I reach Yehuda;

va-o-MAR la-ME-lekh, im al ha-ME-lekh TOV, i-g'-ROT yi-t'-NU-lee al-PA-kha-VOT E-ver ha-NA-har, a-SHER ya-a-VEE-ru-NEE ad a-SHER a-VO el y'-hu-DAH

זוָאוֹמַר֮ לַמֶּ֒לֶךְ֒ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב אִגְּרוֹת֙ יִתְּנוּ־לִ֔י עַֽל־פַּחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר אֲשֶׁר֙ יַעֲבִיר֔וּנִי עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־אָב֖וֹא אֶל־יְהוּדָֽה׃

8likewise, a letter to Asaf, the keeper of the King's Park, directing him to give me timber for roofing the gatehouses of the temple fortress and the city walls and for the house I shall occupy.” The king gave me these, thanks to my God's benevolent care for me.

v'-i-GE-ret el-a-SAF sh'-MER ha-PAR-des a-SHER la-ME-lekh a-SHER yi-TEN-LEE e-TZIM l'-KA-rot et-sha-a-REI ha-bi-RAH a-SHER la-ba-YIT u-l'-CHO-mat ha-IYR v'-la-ba-YIT a-SHER a-VO e-LA-yu va-YI-ten-LEE ha-ME-lekh k'-YAD e-lo-HAI ha-TO-va a-LAI

חוְאִגֶּ֡רֶת אֶל־אָסָף֩ שֹׁמֵ֨ר הַפַּרְדֵּ֜ס אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִתֶּן־לִ֣י עֵצִ֡ים לְ֠קָר֠וֹת אֶת־שַׁעֲרֵ֨י הַבִּירָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־לַבַּ֙יִת֙ וּלְחוֹמַ֣ת הָעִ֔יר וְלַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁר־אָב֣וֹא אֵלָ֑יו וַיִּתֶּן־לִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהַ֖י הַטּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽי׃

9When I came to the governors of the province of Beyond the River I gave them the king's letters. The king also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

va-a-VO el-pa-KHA-vot EV-er ha-NA-har va-e-T'-na LA-HEM AYT i-g'-ROT ha-ME-lekh va-yish-LAKH i-MEE ha-ME-lekh sa-REI kha-YEEL u-fa-RA-sheem.

טוָֽאָב֗וֹא אֶֽל־פַּֽחֲווֹת֙ עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אִגְּר֣וֹת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח עִמִּי֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׂ֥רֵי חַ֖יִל וּפָרָשִֽׁים׃

10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard, it displeased them greatly that someone had come, intent on improving the condition of the Israelites.

vai-YISH-ma SAN-ba-LAT ha-cho-RO-nee v'-to-vi-YAH ha-e-VED ha-a-MO-nee vai-YE-ra LA-HEM ra-AH g'-DO-lah a-SHER-BA a-DAM l'-va-KAYSH to-VAH liv-NAY yis-ra-AYL

יוַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע סַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַחֹרֹנִ֗י וְטֽוֹבִיָּה֙ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמֹּנִ֔י וַיֵּ֥רַע לָהֶ֖ם רָעָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א אָדָ֔ם לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ טוֹבָ֖ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

11I arrived in Yerushalayim. After I was there three days

va-a-VO el y'-ru-sha-LA-yim, va-e-HI-sham ya-MEEM sh'-lo-SHA

יאוָאָב֖וֹא אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וָאֱהִי־שָׁ֖ם יָמִ֥ים שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

12I got up at night, I and a few men with me, and telling no one what my God had put into my mind to do for Yerushalayim, and taking no other beast than the one on which I was riding,

va-a-KUM la-y'-LA a-NEE va-a-na-SHEEM m'-AT i-MEE v'-LO hi-GAD-TEE l'-a-DAM ma e-lo-HAI no-TAYN el li-BEE la-a-SOT li-ru-sha-LA-yim u-v'-HE-ma AYN i-MEE KEE im ha-b'-HE-ma a-SHER a-NEE ro-KHAYV BAH

יבוָאָק֣וּם ׀ לַ֗יְלָה אֲנִי֮ וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים ׀ מְעַט֮ עִמִּי֒ וְלֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתִּי לְאָדָ֔ם מָ֗ה אֱלֹהַי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־לִבִּ֔י לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת לִירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וּבְהֵמָה֙ אֵ֣ין עִמִּ֔י כִּ֚י אִם־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י רֹכֵ֥ב בָּֽהּ׃

13I went out by the Valley Gate, at night, toward the Jackals' Spring and the Dung Gate; and I surveyed the walls of Yerushalayim that were breached, and its gates, consumed by fire.

va-e-tz'-AH b'-sha-ar ha-ga-YA la-Y'-LAH v'-el p'-NAY a-YIN ha-ta-NEEN v'-el sha-ar ha-ash-POT va-e-HI so-VAYR b'-kho-MOT y'-ru-sha-LA-im a-SHER [HEM p'-RU-tzeem] (ha-m'-fu-RO-tzeem) u-sh'-a-rei-HA u-k'-LU va-AYSH

יגוָאֵצְאָ֨ה בְשַֽׁעַר־הַגַּ֜יְא לַ֗יְלָה וְאֶל־פְּנֵי֙ עֵ֣ין הַתַּנִּ֔ין וְאֶל־שַׁ֖עַר הָאַשְׁפֹּ֑ת וָאֱהִ֨י שֹׂבֵ֜ר בְּחוֹמֹ֤ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ אֲשֶׁר־[הֵ֣ם ׀ פְּרוּצִ֔ים] (המפרוצים) וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

14I proceeded to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, where there was no room for the beast under me to continue.

va-e-e-VOR el-sha-AR ha-A-yin v'-el-b'-RE-khat ha-ME-lekh, v'-AYN ma-KOM la-b'-HE-ma la-a-VOR takh-TAI

ידוָאֶֽעֱבֹר֙ אֶל־שַׁ֣עַר הָעַ֔יִן וְאֶל־בְּרֵכַ֖ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאֵין־מָק֥וֹם לַבְּהֵמָ֖ה לַעֲבֹ֥ר תַּחְתָּֽי׃

15So I went up the wadi by night, surveying the wall, and, entering again by the Valley Gate, I returned.

v'-a-E-hee o-LEH va-na-KHAL la-YLA, v'-a-E-hee so-VAYR ba-KHO-ma, v'-a-SHU-v v'-a-VO b'-sha-AR ha-GA-ya, v'-a-SHU-v.

טווָאֱהִ֨י עֹלֶ֤ה בַנַּ֙חַל֙ לַ֔יְלָה וָאֱהִ֥י שֹׂבֵ֖ר בַּחוֹמָ֑ה וָאָשׁ֗וּב וָאָב֛וֹא בְּשַׁ֥עַר הַגַּ֖יְא וָאָשֽׁוּב׃

16The prefects knew nothing of where I had gone or what I had done, since I had not yet divulged it to the Yehudim—the Kohanim, the nobles, the prefects, or the rest of the officials.

v'-ha-s'-ga-NEEM lo ya-d'-U a-NAH ha-la-KH'-tee u-MA a-NEE o-SEH v'-la-y'-hu-DEEM v'-la-ko-ha-NEEM v'-la-kho-REEM v'-la-s'-ga-NEEM u-lye-THER o-SEH ha-m'-la-KHAH ad-KEN lo hi-GAD-tee

טזוְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים לֹ֤א יָדְעוּ֙ אָ֣נָה הָלַ֔כְתִּי וּמָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֑ה וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְלַחֹרִ֣ים וְלַסְּגָנִ֗ים וּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה עַד־כֵּ֖ן לֹ֥א הִגַּֽדְתִּי׃

17Then I said to them, “You see the bad state we are in—Yerushalayim lying in ruins and its gates destroyed by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Yerushalayim and suffer no more disgrace.”

va-o-MAR a-lay-HEM a-TEM ro-EEM ha-ra-AH a-SHER a-NAKH-nu VAH a-SHER y'-ru-sha-LA-im kha-ray-VAH ush-a-RE-ha ni-tz'-TU va-AYSH l'-KHU v'-niv-NEH et KHO-mat y'-ru-sha-LA-im v'-lo nih-YEH OD kher-PAH

יזוָאוֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אַתֶּ֤ם רֹאִים֙ הָרָעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲנַ֣חְנוּ בָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יְרוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ חֲרֵבָ֔ה וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָ נִצְּת֣וּ בָאֵ֑שׁ לְכ֗וּ וְנִבְנֶה֙ אֶת־חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְלֹא־נִהְיֶ֥ה ע֖וֹד חֶרְפָּֽה׃

18I told them of my God's benevolent care for me, also of the things that the king had said to me, and they said, “Let us start building!” They were encouraged by [His] benevolence.

va-a-GID la-HEM et-YAD e-lo-HAI a-SHER hi TO-va a-LAI va-af di-v'-REI ha-ME-lekh a-SHER a-MAR-LEE va-YO-mer-U na-KUM u-va-NEE-nu va-y'-cha-Z'-ku ye-DAY-hem la-TO-va. (P)

יחוָאַגִּ֨יד לָהֶ֜ם אֶת־יַ֣ד אֱלֹהַ֗י אֲשֶׁר־הִיא֙ טוֹבָ֣ה עָלַ֔י וְאַף־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמַר־לִ֑י וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ נָק֣וּם וּבָנִ֔ינוּ וַיְחַזְּק֥וּ יְדֵיהֶ֖ם לַטּוֹבָֽה׃

19When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard, they mocked us and held us in contempt and said, “What is this that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

vai-YISH-ma SAN-ba-LAT ha-CHO-ro-NEE v'-to-bi-YAH ha-a-VED ha-a-MO-nee v'-ge-SHEM ha-a-r'-VEE vai-YAL-i-GU LA-nu vai-YIV-zu a-LEI-nu vai-YO-mer-U ma-ha-da-VAR ha-ZEH a-SHER a-TEM o-SEEM ha-AL ha-ME-lekh a-TEM mor-DIM

יטוַיִּשְׁמַע֩ סַנְבַלַּ֨ט הַחֹרֹנִ֜י וְטֹבִיָּ֣ה ׀ הָעֶ֣בֶד הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֗י וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ הָֽעַרְבִ֔י וַיַּלְעִ֣גוּ לָ֔נוּ וַיִּבְז֖וּ עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים הַעַ֥ל הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אַתֶּ֥ם מֹרְדִֽים׃

20I said to them in reply, “The God of Heaven will grant us success, and we, His servants, will start building. But you have no share or claim or stake in Yerushalayim!”

va-a-SHEEV o-TAM da-VAR va-o-MAR la-HEM e-lo-HEI ha-sha-MA-yim HU yatz-LEE-akh LA-nu va-a-na-KH'-nu a-va-DAV na-KUM u-va-NEE-nu v'-la-KHEM AYN-khel-EK u-tz'-da-KAH v'-zi-KA-ron bi-ru-sha-LA-yim. (pey)

כוָאָשִׁ֨יב אוֹתָ֜ם דָּבָ֗ר וָאוֹמַ֤ר לָהֶם֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם ה֚וּא יַצְלִ֣יחַֽ לָ֔נוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ עֲבָדָ֖יו נָק֣וּם וּבָנִ֑ינוּ וְלָכֶ֗ם אֵֽין־חֵ֧לֶק וּצְדָקָ֛ה וְזִכָּר֖וֹן בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃