3. Source Text: Hebrew (WLC) Nehemiah 2:3:1 ⧉וָאֹמַ֣רvaomarand I said Nehemiah 2:3:2 ⧉לַמֶּ֔לֶךְlamelekhto the king Nehemiah 2:3:3 ⧉הַמֶּ֖לֶךְhamelekhthe king Nehemiah 2:3:4 ⧉לְעוֹלָ֣םleolamfor ever Nehemiah 2:3:5 ⧉יִחְיֶ֑הyikhyemay he live Nehemiah 2:3:6 ⧉מַדּ֜וּעַmaduawhy Nehemiah 2:3:7 ⧉לֹא־יֵרְע֣וּloyereushould not be sad Nehemiah 2:3:8 ⧉פָנַ֗יfanaimy face Nehemiah 2:3:9 ⧉אֲשֶׁ֨רasherwhen Nehemiah 2:3:10 ⧉הָעִ֜ירhairthe city Nehemiah 2:3:11 ⧉בֵּית־קִבְר֤וֹתbetkivrotthe house of graves Nehemiah 2:3:12 ⧉אֲבֹתַי֙avotaiof my fathers Nehemiah 2:3:13 ⧉חֲרֵבָ֔הkharevaruined Nehemiah 2:3:14 ⧉וּשְׁעָרֶ֖יהָushearehaand its gates Nehemiah 2:3:15 ⧉אֻכְּל֥וּukeluhave been consumed Nehemiah 2:3:16 ⧉בָאֵֽשׁ׃סvaeshby fire |
3. Formal Translation 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—lies in ruins, and its gates are consumed by fire?” |
3. Dynamic Translation I answered the king, “Long live the king! How could my face be anything but sad when the city where my forefathers are buried has been laid waste, and its gates have been burned up?” |