1 In|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0853" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" Nisan|strong="H5212" in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0853" 20th year|strong="H8141" of|strong="H4428" King|strong="H4428" Artaxerxes|strong="H0783", some wine|strong="H3196" was|strong="H1961" brought|strong="H5375" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428". I|strong="H5414" took|strong="H5375" the|strong="H0853" wine|strong="H3196" and|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H5414" it|strong="H5414" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428". I|strong="H5414" had|strong="H1961" never|strong="H3808" before|strong="H6440" been|strong="H1961" sad when|strong="H1961" I|strong="H5414" was|strong="H1961" with|strong="H1961" him|strong="H5414", but|strong="H3808" now|strong="H1961" I|strong="H5414" was|strong="H1961" sad.
2 So|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" asked|strong="H0559" me|strong="H6440", “Are|strong="H0369" you|strong="H0859" sick|strong="H2470"? Why|strong="H4069" do|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" look sad|strong="H7455"? I|strong="H3588" think|strong="H3820" your|strong="H6440" heart|strong="H3820" is|strong="H0369" full of|strong="H4428" sadness|strong="H7455".”
3 But|strong="H3808" even|strong="H3808" though I|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" afraid, I|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428", “May|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" live|strong="H2421" forever|strong="H5769"! I|strong="H0834" am sad because|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892" where|strong="H0834" my|strong="H0834" ancestors|strong="H0001" are|strong="H0834" buried lies|strong="H0834" in|strong="H1004" ruins|strong="H5892", and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" gates|strong="H8179" of|strong="H4428" that|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" have|strong="H0834" been|strong="H5769" destroyed|strong="H0398" by|strong="H0784" fire|strong="H0784".”
4 Then|strong="H2088" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413", “What|strong="H4100" do|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0859" want|strong="H1245" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H4100"?”
5 Then|strong="H7971" I|strong="H0834" answered|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428", “If|strong="H0518" it|strong="H0518" would|strong="H0559" please|strong="H2895" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428", and|strong="H3063" if|strong="H0518" I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" been|strong="H0834" good|strong="H3190" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834", please|strong="H2895" send|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem, the|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892" in|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063" where|strong="H0834" my|strong="H5921" ancestors|strong="H0001" are|strong="H0834" buried. I|strong="H0834" want to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H7971" there|strong="H0834" and|strong="H3063" rebuild|strong="H1129" that|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892".”
6 The|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" queen|strong="H7694" who|strong="H3427" was|strong="H1961" sitting|strong="H3427" next|strong="H7971" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H5414" asked|strong="H0559" me|strong="H5414", “How|strong="H4970" long|strong="H5704" will|strong="H1961" your|strong="H5414" trip take|strong="H7725"? When|strong="H1961" will|strong="H1961" you|strong="H5414" get|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" here?”
7 I|strong="H0834" also|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428", “If|strong="H0518" it|strong="H5414" would|strong="H0559" please|strong="H2895" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H0518" something else for|strong="H5921" me|strong="H0413", let|strong="H5414" me|strong="H0413" ask|strong="H0559". Please|strong="H2895" give|strong="H5414" me|strong="H0413" some letters|strong="H0107" to|strong="H0413" show|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0559" governors|strong="H6346" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" area west|strong="H5676" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" Euphrates|strong="H5104" River|strong="H5104". I|strong="H0834" need these|strong="H0834" letters|strong="H0107" so|strong="H5414" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" governors|strong="H6346" will|strong="H0834" give|strong="H5414" me|strong="H0413" permission to|strong="H0413" pass|strong="H5674" safely through|strong="H5674" their|strong="H5414" lands on|strong="H5921" my|strong="H5414" way|strong="H5921" to|strong="H0413" Judah|strong="H3063".
8 I|strong="H0834" also|strong="H0853" need lumber for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" heavy wooden|strong="H6086" beams|strong="H6086" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" gates|strong="H8179", the|strong="H0853" walls|strong="H2346", the|strong="H0853" walls|strong="H2346" around|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Temple|strong="H1004", and|strong="H0935" my|strong="H8104" house|strong="H1004". So|strong="H5414" I|strong="H0834" need a|strong="H5414" letter|strong="H0107" from|strong="H0935" you|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" Asaph|strong="H0623", who|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" charge|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" your|strong="H5414" forests|strong="H6086".”
9 So|strong="H7971" I|strong="H5414" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" governors|strong="H6346" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" area west|strong="H5676" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" Euphrates|strong="H5104" River|strong="H5104" and|strong="H0935" gave|strong="H5414" them|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" letters|strong="H0107" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428". The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" had|strong="H4428" also|strong="H0853" sent|strong="H7971" army|strong="H2428" officers|strong="H8269" and|strong="H0935" soldiers|strong="H2428" on|strong="H0413" horses|strong="H6571" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H0413".
10 Sanballat|strong="H5571" from|strong="H0935" Horon and|strong="H1121" Tobiah|strong="H2900" the|strong="H0834" Ammonite|strong="H5984" official|strong="H5650" heard|strong="H8085" about|strong="H8085" what|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" doing|strong="H7451". They|strong="H1992" were|strong="H0834" very|strong="H1419" upset|strong="H7489" and|strong="H1121" angry that|strong="H0834" someone|strong="H0120" had|strong="H0834" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" help the|strong="H0834" Israelites|strong="H3478".
13 While|strong="H1961" it|strong="H0398" was|strong="H1961" dark I|strong="H0834" went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" through|strong="H6555" the|strong="H6440" Valley|strong="H1516" Gate|strong="H8179". I|strong="H0834" rode toward|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" Dragon|strong="H8577" Well|strong="H0834" and|strong="H0398" the|strong="H6440" Gate|strong="H8179" of|strong="H5869" the|strong="H6440" Ash|strong="H0830" Piles. I|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" inspecting|strong="H7663" the|strong="H6440" walls|strong="H2346" of|strong="H5869" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" that|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H1961" broken|strong="H6555" down|strong="H6555" and|strong="H0398" the|strong="H6440" gates|strong="H8179" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" wall|strong="H2346" that|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H1961" burned with|strong="H0413" fire|strong="H0784".
14 Then|strong="H5674" I|strong="H8478" rode on|strong="H0413" toward|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" Fountain Gate|strong="H8179" and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0413" King’s|strong="H4428" Pool|strong="H1295". As|strong="H8478" I|strong="H8478" got close, I|strong="H8478" could see|strong="H5869" there|strong="H0369" was|strong="H0369" not|strong="H0369" enough room|strong="H4725" for|strong="H8478" my|strong="H8478" horse to|strong="H0413" get through|strong="H5674".
15 So|strong="H1961" I|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" up|strong="H5927" the|strong="H0935" valley|strong="H1516" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" dark, inspecting|strong="H7663" the|strong="H0935" wall|strong="H2346". Finally, I|strong="H0935" turned|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" in|strong="H0935" through|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" Valley|strong="H1516" Gate|strong="H8179".
16 The|strong="H0589" officials|strong="H5461" and|strong="H1980" important|strong="H5704" Israelites didn’t|strong="H3808" know|strong="H3045" where|strong="H0575" I|strong="H0589" had|strong="H3045" gone|strong="H1980". They|strong="H3651" didn’t|strong="H3808" know|strong="H3045" what|strong="H4100" I|strong="H0589" was|strong="H3651" doing|strong="H6213". I|strong="H0589" had|strong="H3045" not|strong="H3808" yet|strong="H3808" said|strong="H3651" anything|strong="H4399" to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0589" Jews|strong="H3064", the|strong="H0589" priests|strong="H3548", the|strong="H0589" king’s family, the|strong="H0589" officials|strong="H5461", or|strong="H3808" any|strong="H4399" of|strong="H3548" the|strong="H0589" other people|strong="H3808" who|strong="H3548" would|strong="H4100" be|strong="H3808" doing|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0589" work|strong="H4399".
17 Then|strong="H1961" I|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", “You|strong="H0859" can|strong="H0834" see|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" trouble|strong="H7451" we|strong="H0587" have|strong="H1961" here: Jerusalem|strong="H3389" is|strong="H0834" a|strong="H1961" pile of|strong="H8179" ruins|strong="H2717", and|strong="H3389" its|strong="H0853" gates|strong="H8179" have|strong="H1961" been|strong="H1961" burned|strong="H3341" with|strong="H0413" fire|strong="H0784". Come|strong="H1961", let’s rebuild|strong="H1129" the|strong="H0853" wall|strong="H2346" of|strong="H8179" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". Then|strong="H1961" we|strong="H0587" will|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H1961" ashamed anymore|strong="H5750".”
18 I|strong="H0834" also|strong="H0637" told|strong="H5046" them|strong="H0853" that|strong="H0834" my|strong="H5921" God|strong="H0430" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H2388" kind|strong="H2896" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H5046". I|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5046" them|strong="H0853" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" had|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H5046". Then|strong="H6965" they|strong="H0834" answered|strong="H0559", “Let’s start|strong="H2388" to|strong="H0559" work|strong="H1697", now|strong="H3027"!” So|strong="H0834" we|strong="H0834" began this|strong="H1931" good|strong="H2896" work|strong="H1697".
19 But|strong="H0859" Sanballat|strong="H5571" from|strong="H5921" Horon, Tobiah|strong="H2900" the|strong="H0559" Ammonite|strong="H5984" official|strong="H5650", and|strong="H4428" Geshem|strong="H1654" the|strong="H0559" Arab heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H0834" we|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" building again. They|strong="H0834" made|strong="H6213" fun of|strong="H4428" us|strong="H5921" in|strong="H5921" a|strong="H8085" very|strong="H2088" ugly way|strong="H1697". They|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559", “What|strong="H4100" are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" doing|strong="H6213"? Are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" turning against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428"?”
20 But|strong="H0369" this|strong="H1931" is|strong="H0369" what|strong="H1697" I|strong="H1697" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0853": “The|strong="H0853" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" heaven|strong="H8064" will|strong="H0430" help|strong="H6965" us|strong="H7725" succeed|strong="H6743". We|strong="H0587" are|strong="H8064" God’s|strong="H0430" servants|strong="H5650" and|strong="H6965" we|strong="H0587" will|strong="H0430" rebuild|strong="H1129" this|strong="H1931" city|strong="H1931". You|strong="H7725" cannot|strong="H0369" help|strong="H6965" us|strong="H7725" in|strong="H0430" this|strong="H1931" work|strong="H1697" because|strong="H0559" none|strong="H0369" of|strong="H0430" your|strong="H7725" family lived here in|strong="H0430" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". You|strong="H7725" don’t|strong="H0369" own any|strong="H0369" of|strong="H0430" this|strong="H1931" land|strong="H2506", and|strong="H6965" you|strong="H7725" have|strong="H0369" no|strong="H0369" right|strong="H6666" to|strong="H0559" be|strong="H1697" in|strong="H0430" this|strong="H1931" place.”