TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 6
Translation and Transliteration of
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1When word reached Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a breach remained in it—though at that time I had not yet set up doors in the gateways—
vai-HEE kha-a-SHER nish-MA l'-san-va-LAT v'-to-vi-YAH ul-GE-shem ha-ar-VEE ul-YE-ter o-y'-VAY-nu KEE va-NEE-tee et ha-kho-MAH v'-lo NO-tar BAH PA-retz GAM ad ha-AYT ha-HEE d'-la-TOT lo he-e-MAD-tee va-sh'-a-REEM
אוַיְהִ֣י כַאֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁמַ֣ע לְסַנְבַלַּ֣ט וְ֠טוֹבִיָּ֠ה וּלְגֶ֨שֶׁם הָֽעַרְבִ֜י וּלְיֶ֣תֶר אֹֽיְבֵ֗ינוּ כִּ֤י בָנִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וְלֹא־נ֥וֹתַר בָּ֖הּ פָּ֑רֶץ גַּ֚ם עַד־הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא דְּלָת֖וֹת לֹא־הֶעֱמַ֥דְתִּי בַשְּׁעָרִֽים׃
6:1 I had rebuilt the wall and not a breach remained in it
Jerusalem’s Old City walls
Built, destroyed and rebuilt – this has repeatedly been the fate of Yerushalayim’s walls. Today’s iconic Old City walls were renovated in 1538-42 by the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, whose dedicatory inscription adorns the Jaffa Gate. A more modest Hebrew inscription indicates another repair in 1970, quoting Nechemya, “Healing had come to the walls of Yerushalayim” (Nehemiah 4:1). Jerusalem’s walls are significant in ways beyond what meets the eye; on a simple level, of course, they provide protection for the city. But on a more mystical plane, these walls provide a separation between what is inside and that which is outside. Though Yerushalayim and its inhabitants are supposed to influence the rest of the world with holiness and spirituality, the walls remind us that it is also important to separate and focus inward. Everyone has an obligation to make an impact and a contribution to the rest of the world, but one must remember not to neglect themselves and their own needs in the process.
2Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, “Come, let us get together in Kephirim in the Ono valley”; they planned to do me harm.
vai-yish-LAKH san-BAL-at v'-ge-SHEM e-LAI lay-MOR, l'-KHA v'-ni-wa-a-DAH yakh-DAV ba-ke-fi-REEM b'-vik-A-t o-NO, v'-HEM-a khosh-VEEM la-a-SOT LEE ra-AH
בוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח סַנְבַלַּ֤ט וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֔ר לְכָ֞ה וְנִֽוָּעֲדָ֥ה יַחְדָּ֛ו בַּכְּפִירִ֖ים בְּבִקְעַ֣ת אוֹנ֑וֹ וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ חֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לִ֖י רָעָֽה׃
3I sent them messengers, saying, “I am engaged in a great work and cannot come down, for the work will stop if I leave it in order to come down to you.”
va-esh-l'-KHA a-LAY-hem mal-a-KHEEM lay-MOR: me-la-a-KHA g'-do-LAH a-NEE o-SEH v'-lo u-KHAL la-RE-det, la-MAH tish-BAT ha-m'-la-a-KHA ka-a-SHER ar-PE-ha, va-ya-rad-TEE a-LAY-khem
גוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֨ה עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם מַלְאָכִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מְלָאכָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֔ה וְלֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת לָ֣מָּה תִשְׁבַּ֤ת הַמְּלָאכָה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַרְפֶּ֔הָ וְיָרַדְתִּ֖י אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
4They sent me the same message four times, and I gave them the same answer.
vai-yish-l'-KHU e-LAI ka-da-VAR ha-ZEH ar-BA p'-a-MEEM va-a-SHEEV o-TAM ka-da-VAR ha-ZEH
דוַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּ אֵלַ֛י כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אַרְבַּ֣ע פְּעָמִ֑ים וָאָשִׁ֥יב אוֹתָ֖ם כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
5Sanballat sent me the same message a fifth time by his servant, who had an open letter with him.
vai-yish-LAKH e-LAI san-BAL-at ka-DA-var ha-ZEH pa-AM cha-MEE-sheet et na-a-RO v'-i-GE-ret p'-tu-KHA b'-ya-DO
הוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אֵלַ֨י סַנְבַלַּ֜ט כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֛ה פַּ֥עַם חֲמִישִׁ֖ית אֶֽת־נַעֲר֑וֹ וְאִגֶּ֥רֶת פְּתוּחָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
6Its text was: “Word has reached the nations, and Geshem too says that you and the Yehudim are planning to rebel—for which reason you are building the wall—and that you are to be their king. Such is the word.
ka-TUV bah ba-go-YIM nish-MA v'-gash-MU o-MER a-TAH v'-ha-y'-hu-DEEM kho-SHE-veem lim-ROD al-KEN a-TAH bo-NEH ha-KHO-mah v'-a-TAH ho-VEH la-HEM l'-ME-lekh ka-de-va-REEM ha-E-leh
וכָּת֣וּב בָּ֗הּ בַּגּוֹיִ֤ם נִשְׁמָע֙ וְגַשְׁמ֣וּ אֹמֵ֔ר אַתָּ֤ה וְהַיְּהוּדִים֙ חֹשְׁבִ֣ים לִמְר֔וֹד עַל־כֵּ֛ן אַתָּ֥ה בוֹנֶ֖ה הַחוֹמָ֑ה וְאַתָּ֗ה הֹוֶ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
7You have also set up Neviim in Yerushalayim to proclaim about you, ‘There is a king in Yehuda!' Word of these things will surely reach the king; so come, let us confer together.”
v'-GAM n'-vee-EEM he-e-mad-TA lik-RO al-E-kha bi-ru-sha-LA-yim lay-MOR: ME-lekh bi-Y'-hu-DAH, v'-a-TAH yish-MA la-ME-lekh ka-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh, v'-a-TAH l'-KHA v'-ni-wa-a-TZA ya-kh'-DAV. (P)
זוְגַם־נְבִיאִ֡ים הֶעֱמַ֣דְתָּ לִקְרֹא֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ בִֽירוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם לֵאמֹ֗ר מֶ֚לֶךְ בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְעַתָּה֙ יִשָּׁמַ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְעַתָּ֣ה לְכָ֔ה וְנִֽוָּעֲצָ֖ה יַחְדָּֽו׃
8I sent back a message to him, saying, “None of these things you mention has occurred; they are figments of your imagination”—
va-e-sh'-LA-kha e-LA-yo lay-MOR: lo ni-h'-YA ka-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh a-SHER a-TAH o-MER, ki mi-li-B'-kha a-TAH bo-DAHM
חוָאֶשְׁלְחָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֤א נִֽהְיָה֙ כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה אוֹמֵ֑ר כִּ֥י מִֽלִּבְּךָ֖ אַתָּ֥ה בוֹדָֽאם׃
9for they all wished to intimidate us, thinking, “They will desist from the work, and it will not get done.” Now strengthen my hands!
KI KU-LAM ME-YAR-I-IM O-TA-NU LAY-MOR YIR-PU YE-DE-HAM MIN HA-ME-LA-KHAH VE-LO TE-A-SEH VE-A-TAH KHA-ZEK ET-YA-DAI
טכִּ֣י כֻלָּ֗ם מְיָֽרְאִ֤ים אוֹתָ֙נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יִרְפּ֧וּ יְדֵיהֶ֛ם מִן־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ה וְעַתָּ֖ה חַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־יָדָֽי׃
10Then I visited Shemaya son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel when he was housebound, and he said, “Let us meet in the House of Hashem, inside the sanctuary, And let us shut the doors of the sanctuary, for they are coming to kill you, By night they are coming to kill you.”
va-a-NEE va-a-TEE BAYT sh'-ma-YA ben d'-la-YA ben m'-he-ta-VEL v'-HU a-TZUR va-YO-mer ni-va-ED el BAYT ha-e-lo-HEEM el TOCH ha-HEY-khal v'-nis-ge-RAH dal-TOT ha-HEY-khal kee ba-EEM l'-ho-RE-GE-kha v'-la-YLA ba-EEM l'-ho-RE-GE-kha
יוַאֲנִי־בָ֗אתִי בֵּ֣ית שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה בֶן־דְּלָיָ֛ה בֶּן־מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖ל וְה֣וּא עָצ֑וּר וַיֹּ֡אמֶר נִוָּעֵד֩ אֶל־בֵּ֨ית הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַֽהֵיכָ֗ל וְנִסְגְּרָה֙ דַּלְת֣וֹת הַהֵיכָ֔ל כִּ֚י בָּאִ֣ים לְהׇרְגֶ֔ךָ וְלַ֖יְלָה בָּאִ֥ים לְהׇרְגֶֽךָ׃
11I replied, “Will a man like me take flight? Besides, who such as I can go into the sanctuary and live? I will not go in.”
va-o-M'-RAH ha-ISH ka-MO-nee yiv-RAKH u-mi ka-MO-nee a-SHER ya-VO el ha-he-KHAL va-KHAI lo a-VO
יאוָאֹמְרָ֗ה הַאִ֤ישׁ כָּמ֙וֹנִי֙ יִבְרָ֔ח וּמִ֥י כָמ֛וֹנִי אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֥א אֶל־הַהֵיכָ֖ל וָחָ֑י לֹ֖א אָבֽוֹא׃
12Then I realized that it was not Hashem who sent him, but that he uttered that prophecy about me—Tobiah and Sanballat having hired him—
va-a-KI-ra va-hi-NEH lo e-lo-HEEM she-la-KHO, ki ha-ne-vu-AH di-BER a-LAI, ve-to-vi-YA ve-san-ba-LAT se-kha-RO
יבוָאַכִּ֕ירָה וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־אֱלֹהִ֖ים שְׁלָח֑וֹ כִּ֤י הַנְּבוּאָה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַ֔י וְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וְסַנְבַלַּ֖ט שְׂכָרֽוֹ׃
13because he was a hireling, that I might be intimidated and act thus and commit a sin, and so provide them a scandal with which to reproach me.
l'-ma-AN sa-KHUR HU l'-ma-AN i-RA v'-e-e-SEH-KEN v'-kha-ta-TEE v'-ha-YA la-HEM l'-SHEM ra l'-ma-AN ye-kha-RE-fu-NEE
יגלְמַ֤עַן שָׂכוּר֙ ה֔וּא לְמַֽעַן־אִירָ֥א וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־כֵּ֖ן וְחָטָ֑אתִי וְהָיָ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְשֵׁ֣ם רָ֔ע לְמַ֖עַן יְחָֽרְפֽוּנִי׃
14“O my God, remember against Tobiah and Sanballat these deeds of theirs, and against Noadiah the Neviah, and against the other Neviim that they wished to intimidate me!”
Zo-KH'-rah e-lo-HAI le-to-VEE-yah u-le-san-ba-LAT k'-ma-a-SAV e-LEH, v'-GAM le-no-a-dee-YAH ha-ne-vee-YAH u-le-ye-TER ha-ne-vee-EEM a-SHER ha-YU me-ya-r'-EEM o-TI.
ידזׇכְרָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י לְטוֹבִיָּ֥ה וּלְסַנְבַלַּ֖ט כְּמַעֲשָׂ֣יו אֵ֑לֶּה וְגַ֨ם לְנוֹעַדְיָ֤ה הַנְּבִיאָה֙ וּלְיֶ֣תֶר הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ מְיָֽרְאִ֥ים אוֹתִֽי׃
15The wall was finished on the twenty-fifth of Elul, after fifty-two days.
va-tish-LAM ha-CHO-mah b'-es-ree-YIM va-cha-mi-SHA le-e-LUL la-cha-mi-SHEEM u-sh'-NA-yim YOM.
טווַתִּשְׁלַם֙ הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה לֶאֱל֑וּל לַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנַ֖יִם יֽוֹם׃
16When all our enemies heard it, all the nations round about us were intimidated, and fell very low in their own estimation; they realized that this work had been accomplished by the help of our God.
vai-HI ka-a-SHER sha-MU kol-o-y'-VEY-nu va-yi-RO-u kol-ha-go-YIM a-SHER s'-vi-VO-tey-NU va-yi-PE-lu m'-OD b'-ay-NAY-hem va-y'-DU KEE may-AYT e-lo-HAY-nu ne-a-STAH ha-m'-la-KHA ha-ZOT
טזוַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ כׇּל־א֣וֹיְבֵ֔ינוּ וַיִּֽרְא֗וּ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבִֽיבֹתֵ֔ינוּ וַיִּפְּל֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֚י מֵאֵ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃
17Also in those days, the nobles of Yehuda kept up a brisk correspondence with Tobiah, and Tobiah with them.
gam ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM mar-BEEM cho-REI y'-hu-DAH i-g'-RO-tei-HEM hol-KHOT al to-vi-YAH va-a-SHER l'-to-vi-YAH ba-OT a-lei-HEM
יזגַּ֣ם ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם מַרְבִּ֞ים חֹרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ אִגְּרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם הוֹלְכ֖וֹת עַל־טוֹבִיָּ֑ה וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לְטוֹבִיָּ֖ה בָּא֥וֹת אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
18Many in Yehuda were his confederates, for he was a son-in-law of Shechanya son of Arah, and his son Yehochanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechya.
ki-ra-BEEM bi-hu-DAH ba-a-LEI she-vu-AH LO, ki-cha-TAN HU lish-KHA-nya ben-a-RACH, vi-yo-cha-NAN be-NO la-KAKH et-bat me-shu-LAM ben-be-re-KHA-ya
יחכִּי־רַבִּ֣ים בִּֽיהוּדָ֗ה בַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁבוּעָה֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־חָתָ֥ן ה֖וּא לִשְׁכַנְיָ֣ה בֶן־אָרַ֑ח וִֽיהוֹחָנָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ לָקַ֕ח אֶת־בַּת־מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם בֶּ֥ן בֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה׃
19They would also speak well of him to me, and would divulge my affairs to him. Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.
gam to-vo-TAV ha-YU o-m'-REEM l'-fa-NAI u-d'-va-RAI ha-YU mo-tzi-EEM LO, i-g'-ROT sha-LAKH to-vi-YA l'-ya-re-E-ni. (P)
יטגַּ֣ם טוֹבֹתָ֗יו הָי֤וּ אֹמְרִים֙ לְפָנַ֔י וּדְבָרַ֕י הָי֥וּ מוֹצִיאִ֖ים ל֑וֹ אִגְּר֛וֹת שָׁלַ֥ח טוֹבִיָּ֖ה לְיָֽרְאֵֽנִי׃
