TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 4
Translation and Transliteration of
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1When Sanballat and Tobiah, and the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that healing had come to the walls of Yerushalayim, that the breached parts had begun to be filled, it angered them very much,
vai-HI kha-a-SHER sha-MA san-BALAT v'-to-vi-YAH v'-ha-ar-VIM v'-ha-a-mon-NIM v'-ha-ash-do-DIM KI a-le-TAH a-ru-KHA l'-kho-MOT ye-ru-sha-LA-im KI he-KHE-lu ha-pe-ru-TZIM l'-hi-sa-TEM va-YI-khar la-HEM m'-OD
אוַיְהִ֣י כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמַ֣ע סַנְבַלַּ֡ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּ֠ה וְהָעַרְבִ֨ים וְהָעַמֹּנִ֜ים וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗ים כִּֽי־עָלְתָ֤ה אֲרוּכָה֙ לְחֹמ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כִּי־הֵחֵ֥לּוּ הַפְּרֻצִ֖ים לְהִסָּתֵ֑ם וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹֽד׃
2and they all conspired together to come and fight against Yerushalayim and to throw it into confusion.
vai-yik-sh'-RU khu-LAM ya-kh'-DAV la-VO l'-hi-la-KHEM bi-ru-sha-LA-yim v'-la-a-SOT LO to-AH
בוַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּ כֻלָּם֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו לָב֖וֹא לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת ל֖וֹ תּוֹעָֽה׃
3Because of them we prayed to our God, and set up a watch over them day and night.
va-nit-pa-LEL el e-lo-HE-nu va-na-a-MID mish-MAR a-LE-hem yo-MAM va-la-YE-lah mi-p'-NE-hem
גוַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלַ֖יְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
4Yehuda was saying, “The strength of the basket-carrier has failed, And there is so much rubble; We are not able ourselves To rebuild the wall.”
vai-YO-mer y'-hu-DAH ka-SHAL ko-akh ha-SA-bal v'-he-a-FAR har-BEH va-a-NAKH-nu lo NOO-khal liv-NOT ba-KHO-mah
דוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה כָּשַׁל֙ כֹּ֣חַ הַסַּבָּ֔ל וְהֶעָפָ֖ר הַרְבֵּ֑ה וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ לֹ֣א נוּכַ֔ל לִבְנ֖וֹת בַּחוֹמָֽה׃
5And our foes were saying, “Before they know or see it, we shall be in among them and kill them, and put a stop to the work.”
va-yo-MERU tza-RE-nu lo yed-U v'-lo yi-RO-u ad a-SHER na-VO el to-KHAM va-ha-ra-G'-NUM v'-hish-ba-T'-NU et ha-me-la-KHA
הוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ צָרֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֤א יֵדְעוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִרְא֔וּ עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָב֥וֹא אֶל־תּוֹכָ֖ם וַהֲרַגְנ֑וּם וְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּ אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃
6When the Yehudim living near them would arrive, they would tell us time and again “…from all the places where…you shall come back to us…”
vai-HI ka-a-SHER ba-U ha-y'-hu-DEEM ha-yo-SHE-VEEM etz-LAM, va-YO-meru LA-nu e-SEHR p'-a-MEEM mi-KOL ha-m'-ko-MOT a-SHER ta-SHU-vu a-LE-nu
ווַֽיְהִי֙ כַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לָ֙נוּ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים מִכׇּל־הַמְּקֹמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁ֥וּבוּ עָלֵֽינוּ׃
7I stationed, on the lower levels of the place, behind the walls, on the bare rock—I stationed the people by families with their swords, their lances, and their bows.
va-a-a-MID mit-TAKH-toht la-ma-KOM me-a-kha-RAY la-KHO-ma (ba-tz'-khee-KHEEM) [ba-tz'-khee-KHEEM] va-a-a-MID et-ha-AHM le-mish-pa-KHOT im-khar-vo-TAY-hem rom-KHAY-hem v'-ka-sh'-to-TAY-hem
זוָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד מִֽתַּחְתְּי֧וֹת לַמָּק֛וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י לַחוֹמָ֖ה (בצחחיים) [בַּצְּחִיחִ֑ים] וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד אֶת־הָעָם֙ לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת עִם־חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם רׇמְחֵיהֶ֖ם וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
8Then I decided to exhort the nobles, the prefects, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them! Think of the great and awesome Hashem, and fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes!”
va-E-rei va-A-kum va-o-MAR el ha-cho-RIM v'-el ha-se-ga-NIM v'-el ye-ter ha-AHM al ti-RE-u mi-p'-NE-hem et a-do-NAI ha-ga-DOL v'-ha-no-RA z'-ko-RU v'-hi-la-cha-MU al a-chei-KHEM b'-nei-CHEM u-ve-no-TEI-CHEM ne-she-CHEM u-ba-TEI-CHEM. (P)
חוָאֵ֣רֶא וָאָק֗וּם וָאֹמַ֞ר אֶל־הַחֹרִ֤ים וְאֶל־הַסְּגָנִים֙ וְאֶל־יֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם אֶת־אֲדֹנָ֞י הַגָּד֤וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא֙ זְכֹ֔רוּ וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֗וּ עַל־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔ם נְשֵׁיכֶ֖ם וּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃
9When our enemies learned that it had become known to us, since Hashem had thus frustrated their plan, we could all return to the wall, each to his work.
vai-HI ka-a-SHER sha-MU o-y'-VEY-nu ki-NO-d'-a LA-nu va-YA-fer ha-e-lo-HEEM et-a-tza-TAM (va-NA-shov) [va-NASH-ov] ku-LA-nu el ha-KHO-ma, EESH el m'-la-KH'-to
טוַיְהִ֞י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֤וּ אוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּי־נ֣וֹדַֽע לָ֔נוּ וַיָּ֥פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עֲצָתָ֑ם (ונשוב) [וַנָּ֤שׇׁב] כֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃
10From that day on, half my servants did work and half held lances and shields, bows and armor. And the officers stood behind the whole house of Yehuda
vai-HI, min ha-YOM ha-HU kha-TZI ne-a-RAI o-SEEM ba-me-la-KHA, v'-khetz-YAM ma-kha-ZEE-KEEM v'-ha-rom-KHA-KEEM ha-ma-gi-NEEM v'-ha-k'-sha-TOAT v'-ha-shi-ree-NEEM v'-ha-sa-REEM a-kha-RAY kol-BAYT y'-hu-DAH
יוַיְהִ֣י ׀ מִן־הַיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא חֲצִ֣י נְעָרַי֮ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּמְּלָאכָה֒ וְחֶצְיָ֗ם מַחֲזִיקִים֙ וְהָרְמָחִ֣ים הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים וְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹת וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑ים וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י כׇּל־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה׃
11who were rebuilding the wall. The basket-carriers were burdened, doing work with one hand while the other held a weapon.
ha-bo-NEEM ba-kho-MAH v'-ha-no-s'-EEM ba-SE-vel o-m'-SEEM b'-a-KHAT ya-DO o-SEH va-m'-la-KHAH v'-a-KHAT ma-kha-ZE-ket ha-SHA-lakh
יאהַבּוֹנִ֧ים בַּחוֹמָ֛ה וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖בֶל עֹמְשִׂ֑ים בְּאַחַ֤ת יָדוֹ֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ת מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת הַשָּֽׁלַח׃
4:11 Doing work with one hand while the other held a weapon
A new IDF recruit holding a Tanakh and a gun
Throughout the Tanakh, God does wonders and miracles to save the Jewish people. Although perhaps one would think that a nation under Hashem’s direct protection should not need arms to defend itself, it is His will that people conduct themselves in a natural manner. Only when necessary will Hashem intervene with open miracles. This verse describes how in Nechemya’s time, those rebuilding the walls of Yerushalayim would work with one hand while holding weapons of self-defense in the other. Though they rely on their own strength for protection, they remember that the Lord is the source of their might and their success. As described earlier in verse 3, first they “prayed to our God,” and then they “set up a watch” against their enemies. Today, the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces are the ones protecting the Nation of Israel. At IDF swearing-in ceremonies, each soldier is given a Tanakh to hold in one hand, and a gun in the other. In this way, Israeli soldiers are the spiritual descendants of Nechemya’s work force who are reminded that it is not their strength alone that protects the nation, but Hashem above.
12As for the builders, each had his sword girded at his side as he was building. The trumpeter stood beside me.
v'-ha-BO-nim, eesh khar-VO a-su-REEM al mot-NAV u-bo-NEEM, v'-ha-to-KAY-a ba-sho-FAR etz-LEE
יבוְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔ים אִ֥ישׁ חַרְבּ֛וֹ אֲסוּרִ֥ים עַל־מׇתְנָ֖יו וּבוֹנִ֑ים וְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר אֶצְלִֽי׃
13I said to the nobles, the prefects, and the rest of the people, “There is much work and it is spread out; we are scattered over the wall, far from one another.
va-o-MAR el ha-ko-RIM v'-el ha-s'-ga-NEEM v'-el ye-TER ha-AHM ha-m'-LA-kha ha-r'-BEH u-r'-kha-VAH va-a-NAKH-nu nif-ra-DEEM al ha-KHO-mah r'-KHO-keem eesh me-a-KHEEV
יגוָאֹמַ֞ר אֶל־הַחֹרִ֤ים וְאֶל־הַסְּגָנִים֙ וְאֶל־יֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה הַרְבֵּ֖ה וּרְחָבָ֑ה וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ נִפְרָדִים֙ עַל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה רְחוֹקִ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ מֵאָחִֽיו׃
14When you hear a trumpet call, gather yourselves to me at that place; our God will fight for us!”
bi-ME-kom a-SHER tish-m'-U et-KOL ha-sho-FAR sha-MAH ti-ka-VE-tzu e-lei-NU e-lo-HEI-nu yi-la-KHEM la-NU
ידבִּמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר שָׁ֖מָּה תִּקָּבְצ֣וּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יִלָּ֥חֶם לָֽנוּ׃
15And so we worked on, while half were holding lances, from the break of day until the stars appeared.
va-a-NAKH-nu o-SEEM ba-m'-la-KHA, v'-khe-tzee-YAM ma-kha-ZEE-KEEM ba-r'-ma-KHEEM may-a-LOT ha-sha-KHAR ad tze-ET ha-ko-KHA-VEEM
טווַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה וְחֶצְיָ֗ם מַחֲזִיקִים֙ בָּֽרְמָחִ֔ים מֵעֲל֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔חַר עַ֖ד צֵ֥את הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃
16I further said to the people at that time, “Let every man with his servant lodge in Yerushalayim, that we may use the night to stand guard and the day to work.”
gam ba-EYT ha-HEE a-MAR-tee la-AM: eesh v'-na-a-RO ya-LEE-nu b'-TOCH ye-ru-sha-LA-yim, v'-ha-YU-la-NU ha-LAI-la mish-MAR v'-ha-YOM me-la-KHAH
טזגַּ֣ם בָּעֵ֤ת הַהִיא֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי לָעָ֔ם אִ֣ישׁ וְנַעֲר֔וֹ יָלִ֖ינוּ בְּת֣וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְהָֽיוּ־לָ֧נוּ הַלַּ֛יְלָה מִשְׁמָ֖ר וְהַיּ֥וֹם מְלָאכָֽה׃
17Nor did I, my brothers, my servants, or the guards following me ever take off our clothes, [or] each his weapon, even at the water.
v'-AYN a-NEE v'-a-KHAI u-ne-a-RAI v'-an-SHAY ha-mish-MAR a-SHER a-cha-RAI, AYN a-na-KH'-NU po-sh'-TEEM b'-ga-DAY-nu, EESH shi-l'-KHO ha-MA-yim.
יזוְאֵ֨ין אֲנִ֜י וְאַחַ֣י וּנְעָרַ֗י וְאַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמִּשְׁמָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַחֲרַ֔י אֵין־אֲנַ֥חְנוּ פֹשְׁטִ֖ים בְּגָדֵ֑ינוּ אִ֖ישׁ שִׁלְח֥וֹ הַמָּֽיִם׃
