1
וַיְהִי בְּחֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן שְׁנַת עֶשְׂרִים לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא הַמֶּלֶךְ יַיִן לְפָנָיו וָאֶשָּׂא אֶת־הַיַּיִן וָאֶתְּנָה לַמֶּלֶךְ וְלֹא־הָיִיתִי רַע לְפָנָיו
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν μηνὶ Νισὰν ἔτους εἰκοστοῦ Ἀρθασασθὰ βασιλεῖ, καὶ ἦν ὁ οἶνος ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ· καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν οἶνον, καὶ ἔδωκα τῷ βασιλεῖ· καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἕτερος ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
And it came to pass in the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that the wine was before me: and I took the wine, and gave [it] to the king: and there was not another before him.
2
וַיֹּאמֶר לִי הַמֶּלֶךְ מַדּוּעַ פָּנֶיךָ רָעִים וְאַתָּה אֵינְךָ חוֹלֶה אֵין זֶה כִּי־אִם רֹעַ לֵב וָאִירָא הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד
And 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.
Καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ βασιλεὺς, διὰ τί τὸ πρόσωπόν σου πονηρὸν, καὶ οὐκ εἶ μετριάζων; καὶ οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο, εἰ μὴ πονηρία καρδίας· καὶ ἐφοβήθην πολὺ σφόδρα,
And the king said to me, Why is thy countenance sad, and dost thou not control thyself? and now this is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very much alarmed,
3
וָאֹמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ לְעוֹלָם יִחְיֶה מַדּוּעַ לֹא־יֵרְעוּ פָנַי אֲשֶׁר הָעִיר בֵּית־קִבְרוֹת אֲבֹתַי חֲרֵבָה וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ אֻכְּלוּ בָאֵשׁ
And I 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?'
καὶ εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὁ βασιλεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ζήτω· διὰ τί οὐ μὴ γένηται πονηρὸν τὸ πρόσωπόν μου, διότι ἡ πόλις οἶκος μνημείων πατέρων μου ἠρημώθη, καὶ αἱ πύλαι αὐτῆς κατεβρώθησαν ἐν πυρί;
and I said to the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, forasmuch as the city, even the home of the sepulchers of my fathers, has been laid waste, and her gates have been devoured with fire?
4
וַיֹּאמֶר לִי הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל־מַה־זֶּה אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ וָאֶתְפַּלֵּל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם
Then the king said unto me: 'For what dost thou make request?' So I prayed to the G-d of heaven.
Καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ βασιλεύς, περὶ τίνος τοῦτο σὺ ζητεῖς; καὶ προσηυξάμην πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ,
And the king said to me, For what dost thou ask thus? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5
וָאֹמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב וְאִם־יִיטַב עַבְדְּךָ לְפָנֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלָחֵנִי אֶל־יְהוּדָה אֶל־עִיר קִבְרוֹת אֲבֹתַי וְאֶבְנֶנָּה
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.'
καὶ εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ, εἰ ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ἀγαθὸν, καὶ εἰ ἀγαθυνθήσεται ὁ παῖς σου ἐνώπιόν σοῦ, ὥστε πέμψαι αὐτὸν ἐν Ἰούδα εἰς πόλιν μνημείων πατέρων μου, καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω αὐτήν.
And I said to the king, If [it seem] good to the king, and if thy servant shall have found favor in thy sight, [I ask] that [thou] wouldest send him into Judah, to the city of the sepulchers of my fathers; then will I rebuild it.
6
וַיֹּאמֶר לִי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַשֵּׁגַל יוֹשֶׁבֶת אֶצְלוֹ עַד־מָתַי יִהְיֶה מַהֲלָכֲךָ וּמָתַי תָּשׁוּב וַיִּיטַב לִפְנֵי־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלָחֵנִי וָאֶתְּנָה לוֹ זְמָן
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.
Καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὁ βασιλεὺς, καὶ ἡ παλλακὴ ἡ καθημένη ἐχόμενα αὐτοῦ, ἕως πότε ἔσται ἡ πορεία σου, καὶ πότε ἐπιστρέψεις; καὶ ἠγαθύνθη ἐνώπιον τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀπέστειλέ με, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῷ ὅρον.
And the king, and his concubine that sat next to him, said to me, For how long will thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? and [the proposal] was pleasing before the king, and he sent me away, and I appointed him a time.
7
וָאוֹמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב אִגְּרוֹת יִתְּנוּ־לִי עַל־פַּחֲווֹת עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבִירוּנִי עַד אֲשֶׁר־אָבוֹא אֶל־יְהוּדָה
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 let me pass through till I come unto Judah;
Καὶ εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ, εἰ ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ἀγαθὸν, δότω μοι ἐπιστολὰς πρὸς τοὺς ἐπάρχους πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, ὥστε παραγαγεῖν με ἕως ἔλθω ἐπὶ Ἰούδαν,
And I said to the king, If [it seem] good to the king, let him give me letters to the governors beyond the river, so as to forward me till I come to Judah;
8
וְאִגֶּרֶת אֶל־אָסָף שֹׁמֵר הַפַּרְדֵּס אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יִתֶּן־לִי עֵצִים לְקָרוֹת אֶת־שַׁעֲרֵי הַבִּירָה אֲשֶׁר־לַבַּיִת וּלְחוֹמַת הָעִיר וְלַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר־אָבוֹא אֵלָיו וַיִּתֶּן־לִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּיַד־אֱלֹהַי הַטּוֹבָה עָלָי
and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's park, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertaineth 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 G-d upon me.
καὶ ἐπιστολὴν ἐπὶ Ἀσὰφ φύλακα τοῦ παραδείσου ὅς ἐστι τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὥστε δοῦναί μοι ξύλα στεγάσαι τὰς πύλας, καὶ εἰς τὸ τεῖχος τῆς πόλεως, καὶ εἰς οἶκον ὃν εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς αὐτόν· καὶ ἔδωκέ μοι ὁ βασιλεὺς ὡς χεὶρ Θεοῦ ἡ ἀγαθή.
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the garden which belongs to the king, that he may give me timber to cover the gates, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I shall enter. And the king gave to me, according as the good hand of God [was upon me].
9
וָאָבוֹא אֶל־פַּחֲווֹת עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר וָאֶתְּנָה לָהֶם אֵת אִגְּרוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַח עִמִּי הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׂרֵי חַיִל וּפָרָשִׁים
Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.
Καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τοὺς ἐπάρχους πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτοῖς τὰς ἐπιστολὰς τοῦ βασιλέως· καὶ ἀπέστειλε μετʼ ἐμοῦ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀρχηγοὺς δυνάμεως καὶ ἱππεῖς.
And I came to the governors beyond the river, and I gave them the king’s letters. (Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.)
10
וַיִּשְׁמַע סַנְבַלַּט הַחֹרֹנִי וְטוֹבִיָּה הָעֶבֶד הָעַמֹּנִי וַיֵּרַע לָהֶם רָעָה גְדֹלָה אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אָדָם לְבַקֵּשׁ טוֹבָה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Καὶ ἤκουσε Σαναβαλλὰτ ὁ Ἀρωνὶ, καὶ Τωβία ὁ δοῦλος Ἀμμωνὶ, καὶ πονηρὸν αὐτοῖς ἐγένετο, ὅτι ἥκει ὁ ἄνθρωπος ζητῆσαι ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ.
And Sanballat the Horonite heard [it], and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and it was grievous to them that a man was come to seek good for the children of Israel.
11
וָאָבוֹא אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וָאֱהִי־שָׁם יָמִים שְׁלֹשָׁה
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἤμην ἐκεῖ ἡμέρας τρεῖς.
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12
וָאָקוּם לַיְלָה אֲנִי וַאֲנָשִׁים מְעַט עִמִּי וְלֹא־הִגַּדְתִּי לְאָדָם מָה אֱלֹהַי נֹתֵן אֶל־לִבִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת לִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וּבְהֵמָה אֵין עִמִּי כִּי אִם־הַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי רֹכֵב בָּהּ
And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my G-d put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
Καὶ ἀνέστην νυκτὸς ἐγὼ καὶ ἄνδρες ὀλίγοι μετʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλα ἀνθρώπῳ τί ὁ Θεὸς δίδωσιν εἰς καρδίαν μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι μετὰ τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ κτῆνος οὐκ ἔστι μετʼ ἐμοῦ, εἰ μὴ τὸ κτῆνος ᾧ ἐγὼ ἐπιβαίνω ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
And I rose up by night, I and a few men with me; and I told no man what God put into my heart to do with Israel; and there was no beast with me, except the beast which I rode upon.
13
וָאֵצְאָה בְשַׁעַר־הַגַּיא לַיְלָה וְאֶל־פְּנֵי עֵין הַתַּנִּין וְאֶל־שַׁעַר הָאַשְׁפֹּת וָאֱהִי שֹׂבֵר בְּחוֹמֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם אֲשֶׁר־המפרוצים הֵם פְּרוּצִים וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ אֻכְּלוּ בָאֵשׁ
And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the dragon's well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
Καὶ ἐξῆλθον ἐν πύλῃ τοῦ γωληλὰ, καὶ πρὸς στόμα πηγῆς τῶν συκῶν, καὶ εἰς πύλην τῆς κοπρίας· καὶ ἤμην συντρίβων ἐν τῷ τείχει Ἱερουσαλὴμ ὃ αὐτοὶ καθαιροῦσι, καὶ πύλαι αὐτῆς κατεβρώθησαν πυρί.
And I went forth by the gate of the valley by night, and to the mouth of the well of fig trees, and to the Dung Gate: and I mourned over the wall of Jerusalem which they were destroying, and her gates were devoured with fire.
14
וָאֶעֱבֹר אֶל־שַׁעַר הָעַיִן וְאֶל־בְּרֵכַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאֵין־מָקוֹם לַבְּהֵמָה לַעֲבֹר תַּחְתָּי
Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king's pool; but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
Καὶ παρῆλθον ἐπὶ πύλην τοῦ αῒν, καὶ εἰς κολυμβήθραν τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ οὐκ ἦν τόπος τῷ κτήνει παρελθεῖν ὑποκάτω μου.
And I passed on to the fountain gate, and to the king’s pool; and there was no room for the beast to pass under me.
15
וָאֱהִי עֹלֶה בַנַּחַל לַיְלָה וָאֱהִי שֹׂבֵר בַּחוֹמָה וָאָשׁוּב וָאָבוֹא בְּשַׁעַר הַגַּיְא וָאָשׁוּב
Then went I up in the night in the valley, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.
Καὶ ἤμην ἀναβαίνων ἐν τῷ τείχει χειμάῤῥου νυκτός, καὶ ἤμην συντρίβων ἐν τῷ τείχει, καὶ ἤμην ἐν πύλῃ τῆς φάραγγος, καὶ ἐπέστρεψα.
And I went up by the wall of the brook by night, and mourned over the wall, and passed through the gate of the valley, and returned.
16
וְהַסְּגָנִים לֹא יָדְעוּ אָנָה הָלַכְתִּי וּמָה אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה וְלַיְּהוּדִים וְלַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַחֹרִים וְלַסְּגָנִים וּלְיֶתֶר עֹשֵׂה הַמְּלָאכָה עַד־כֵּן לֹא הִגַּדְתִּי
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.
Καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τί ἐπορεύθην, καὶ τί ἐγὼ ποιῶ· καὶ τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, καὶ τοῖς ἱερεῦσι, καὶ τοῖς ἐντίμοις, καὶ τοῖς στρατηγοῖς, καὶ τοῖς καταλοίποις τοῖς ποιοῦσι τὰ ἔργα, ἕως τότε οὐκ ἀπήγγειλα.
And the sentinels knew not why I went, nor what I was doing; and until that time I told [it] not to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the captains, or to the rest [of the men] who wrought the works.
17
וָאוֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם אַתֶּם רֹאִים הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ בָהּ אֲשֶׁר יְרוּשָׁלִַם חֲרֵבָה וּשְׁעָרֶיהָ נִצְּתוּ בָאֵשׁ לְכוּ וְנִבְנֶה אֶת־חוֹמַת יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְלֹא־נִהְיֶה עוֹד חֶרְפָּה
Then said I unto them: 'Ye see the evil case 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.'
Καὶ εἶπα πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ὑμεῖς βλέπετε τὴν πονηρίαν ταύτην, ἐν ᾗ ἐσμὲν ἐν αὐτῇ, πῶς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔρημος, καὶ αἱ πύλαι αὐτῆς ἐδόθησαν πυρί· δεῦτε, καὶ διοικοδομήσωμεν τὸ τεῖχος Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ οὐκ ἐσόμεθα ἔτι ὄνειδος.
Then I said to them, Ye see this evil, in which we are, how Jerusalem is desolate, and her gates have been set on fire: come, and let us build throughout the wall of Jerusalem, and we shall be no longer a reproach.
18
וָאַגִּיד לָהֶם אֶת־יַד אֱלֹהַי אֲשֶׁר־הִיא טוֹבָה עָלַי וְאַף־דִּבְרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אָמַר־לִי וַיֹּאמְרוּ נָקוּם וּבָנִינוּ וַיְחַזְּקוּ יְדֵיהֶם לַטּוֹבָה
And I told them of the hand of my G-d which was good upon me; as also of 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 the good work.
Καὶ ἀπήγγειλα αὐτοῖς τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Θεοῦ ᾗ ἐστιν ἀγαθὴ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς λόγους τοῦ βασιλέως οὓς εἶπέ μοι· καὶ εἶπα, ἀναστῶμεν, καὶ οἰκοδομήσωμεν· καὶ ἐκραταιώθησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν.
And I told them of the hand of God which was good upon me, also about the words of the king which he spoke to me: and I said, Let us arise and build. And their hands were strengthened for the good [work].
19
וַיִּשְׁמַע סַנְבַלַּט הַחֹרֹנִי וְטֹבִיָּה הָעֶבֶד הָעַמּוֹנִי וְגֶשֶׁם הָעַרְבִי וַיַּלְעִגוּ לָנוּ וַיִּבְזוּ עָלֵינוּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ מָה־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹשִׂים הַעַל הַמֶּלֶךְ אַתֶּם מֹרְדִים
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?'
Καὶ ἤκουσε Σαναβαλλὰτ ὁ Ἀρωνὶ, καὶ Τωβία ὁ δοῦλος ὁ Ἀμμωνὶ, καὶ Γησὰμ ὁ Ἀραβί, καὶ ἐξεγέλασαν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἦλθον ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς, καὶ εἶπον, τί τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ὃ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε; ἢ ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ὑμεῖς ἀποστατεῖτε;
And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard [it], and they laughed us to scorn, and came to us, and said, What [is] this thing that ye are doing? are ye revolting against the king?
20
וָאָשִׁיב אוֹתָם דָּבָר וָאוֹמַר לָהֶם אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם הוּא יַצְלִיחַ לָנוּ וַאֲנַחְנוּ עֲבָדָיו נָקוּם וּבָנִינוּ וְלָכֶם אֵין־חֵלֶק וּצְדָקָה וְזִכָּרוֹן בִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם
Then answered I them, and said unto them: 'The G-d 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.'
Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα αὐτοῖς λόγον, καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς, ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ αὐτὸς εὐοδώσει ἡμῖν, καὶ ἡμεῖς δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ καθαροὶ, καὶ οἰκοδομήσομεν· καὶ ὑμῖν οὐκ ἔστι μερὶς καὶ δικαιοσύνη καὶ μνημόσυνον ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
And I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he shall prosper us, and we his servants are pure, and we will build: but ye have no part, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.