1 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan {nisan: spring month}, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was set before him, and I lifted the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not before been sad {ra: sad expression} in his presence.
2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face so sad {raim: dejected appearance}, though you are not sick? This is nothing except sorrow of heart.” Then I was greatly afraid {vaira: profound dread}.
3 And I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad when the city—the place of my ancestors’ graves {beit-kivrot: family burial site}—lies in ruins, and its gates are consumed by fire {ba’esh: by burning}?”
4 Then the king said to me, “What is it that you are seeking?” And I directed my prayer {hitpael: personal invocation} to the God of heaven {Elohei Hashamayim, Divine Hearer}.
5 And I said to the king {melek: royal authority}, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant {eved: loyal attendant} has found favor before you, let me be sent to Judah, to the city of the graves of my fathers, so that I may rebuild it.”
6 And the king {melekh: sovereign ruler} said to me—while the consort sat beside him—“How long will your journey {mahalakh: travel course} be and when will you return?” It pleased the king to send me, and I appointed for him a time.
7 Then I said to the king, “If it is pleasing to the king, may I receive letters {iggərot: official communications} for the governors {pakhavot: provincial administrators} of the territories beyond the river, so they may grant me safe passage until I reach Judah.”
8 And also a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s park {pardes: cultivated royal orchard}, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress by the temple, for the city wall, and for the house into which I will enter. And the king granted what I asked, according to the good hand of my God {Elohai, Sovereign Helper} upon me.
9 Then I came to the governors {pachot: provincial authorities} beyond the River and delivered to them the king’s letters {iggerot: royal missives}. And the king had sent with me commanders of the army and horsemen.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant {ha-eved: royal official} heard it, it seemed to them a great evil that a man had come to seek {levakesh: pursue welfare} the good of the children of Israel.
11 So I came to Jerusalem{Yerushalayim: restored city}, and I remained there three days{yamim: periods of time}.
12 And I arose at night with a few men, and I did not tell any man what my God {Elohai, Personal Guide} had placed in my heart {lev: inner self} to do for Jerusalem. And no beast was with me except the one on which I rode.
13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate and toward the front of the Dragon Spring{ein-hatannin: water source} and to the Refuse Gate. And I inspected{sover: closely examining} the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates, which had been consumed by fire.
14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool {berekhat: king’s reservoir}, but there was no place for the pack animal {behemah: burden bearer} under me to pass.
15 And by night I went up along the valley, and I was examining {sover: detailed scrutiny} the wall {chomah: defensive barrier}; then I turned back and entered through the Valley Gate, and I returned.
16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, since I had not yet informed {higgadti: disclosed information} the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest {yeter: remaining workers} who were doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble {hara’ah: distressing situation} we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a reproach {kherpah: object of contempt}.”
18 And I told them of the hand of my God {elohay: Provident Helper} that had been good toward me, and also of what the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us get up and build.” Then they took courage {chazku: resolute strength} and set their hands to the good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite attendant, and Geshem the Arab heard, they jeered at us and treated us with contempt, and they said, “What is this undertaking {hadavar hazeh: this undertaking} you are doing? Are you rising in rebellion {mordim: open rebellion} against the king?”
20 Then I answered them and said, “The God of the heavens {Elohei hashamayim, Divine Ruler} is the one who will grant us success, and we, His servants, will rise and build; but you have no portion, nor right {tsedaqah: legitimate claim}, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”