Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close NET

Nehemiah 2
New English Translation

Nehemiah Is Permitted to Go to Jerusalem

2 Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me,[a] I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously[b] I had not been depressed[c] in the king’s presence.[d] 2 So the king said to me, “Why do you appear to be depressed when you aren’t sick? What can this be other than sadness of heart?” This made me very fearful.

3 I replied to the king, “O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors[e] lies desolate and its gates destroyed[f] by fire?” 4 The king responded,[g] “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven 5 and said to the king, “If the king is so inclined[h] and if your servant has found favor in your sight, dispatch me to Judah, to the city with the graves of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.” 6 Then the king, with his consort[i] sitting beside him, replied, “How long would your trip take, and when would you return?” Since the king was pleased to send me,[j] I gave him a time. 7 I said to the king, “If the king is so inclined, let him give me letters for the governors of Trans-Euphrates[k] that will enable me to travel safely until I reach Judah, 8 and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king’s nature preserve,[l] so that he will give me timber for beams for the gates of the fortress adjacent to the temple and for the city wall[m] and for the house to which I go.” So the king granted me these requests,[n] for the good hand of my God was on me. 9 Then I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, and I presented to them the letters from the king. The king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official[o] heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.

Nehemiah Arrives in Jerusalem

11 So I came to Jerusalem. When I had been there for three days, 12 I got up during the night, along with a few men who were with me. But I did not tell anyone what my God was putting on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me, except for the one[p] I was riding. 13 I proceeded through the Valley Gate by night, in the direction of the Well of the Dragons[q] and the Dung Gate,[r] inspecting[s] the walls of Jerusalem that had been breached and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 I passed on to the Gate of the Well and the King’s Pool, where there was not enough room for my animal to pass with me. 15 I continued up the valley during the night, inspecting the wall. Then I turned back and came to the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the problem that we have—Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue.” 18 Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what[t] the king had said to me. Then they replied, “Let’s begin rebuilding right away!”[u] So they readied themselves[v] for this good project. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this,[w] they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 I responded to them by saying, “The God of heaven will prosper us. We his servants will start the rebuilding.[x] But you have no just or ancient right in Jerusalem.”[y]

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:1 tc The translation reads with the LXX וְיַיִן לְפָנַי (veyayin lefanay, “and wine before me”) rather than יַיִן לְפָנָיו (yayin lefanayv, “wine before him”) of the MT. The initial vav (ו) of the original וְיַיִן probably dropped out due to haplograpy or orthographic confusion with the two yods (י) which follow. The final vav on לְפָנָיו in the MT was probably added due to dittography with the vav on the immediately following word.
  2. Nehemiah 2:1 tc The translation reads לְפָנִים (lefanim, “formerly”) rather than לְפָנָיו (lefanayv, “to his face”) of the MT. The MT seems to suggest that Nehemiah was not sad before the king, which is contrary to what follows.
  3. Nehemiah 2:1 tn Or “showed him a sullen face.” See HALOT 1251 s.v. רַע, רָע 9.
  4. Nehemiah 2:1 tn This expression is either to be inferred from the context, or perhaps one should read לְפָנָיו (lefanayv, “before him”; cf. the MT) in addition to לְפָנִים (lefanim, “formerly”). See preceding note on the word “previously.”
  5. Nehemiah 2:3 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 5).
  6. Nehemiah 2:3 tn Heb “devoured” or “eaten” (so also in Neh 2:13).
  7. Nehemiah 2:4 tn Heb “said to me.”
  8. Nehemiah 2:5 tn Heb “If upon the king it is good.” So also in v. 7.
  9. Nehemiah 2:6 tn Or “queen,” so most English versions (cf. HALOT 1415 s.v. שֵׁגַל); TEV “empress.”
  10. Nehemiah 2:6 tn Heb “It was good before the king and he sent me.”
  11. Nehemiah 2:7 tn Heb “beyond the river,” here and often elsewhere in the Book of Nehemiah.
  12. Nehemiah 2:8 tn Or “forest.” So HALOT 963 s.v. פַּרְדֵּס 2.
  13. Nehemiah 2:8 tc One medieval Hebrew ms, the Syriac Peshitta, Vulgate, and the Arabic read here the plural וּלְחוֹמוֹת (ulekhomot, “walls”) against the singular וּלְחוֹמַת (ulekhomat) in the MT. The plural holem vav (וֹ) might have dropped out due to dittography or the plural form might have been written defectively.
  14. Nehemiah 2:8 tn The Hebrew text does not include the expression “these requests,” but it is implied.
  15. Nehemiah 2:10 tn Heb “servant” (so KJV, ASV; NAB “slave”; NCV “officer.” This phrase also occurs in v. 19.
  16. Nehemiah 2:12 tn Heb “the animal.”
  17. Nehemiah 2:13 tn Or “Well of the Serpents”; or “Well of the Jackals” (cf. ASV, NIV, NLT).
  18. Nehemiah 2:13 tn Or “Rubbish Gate” (so TEV); NASB “Refuse Gate”; NCV “Trash Gate”; CEV “Garbage Gate.”
  19. Nehemiah 2:13 tc For the MT reading שֹׂבֵר (sover, “inspecting”) the LXX erroneously has שֹׁבֵר (shover, “breaking”). However, further destruction of Jerusalem’s walls was obviously not a part of Nehemiah’s purpose.
  20. Nehemiah 2:18 tn Heb “the words of the king which he had spoken to me.”
  21. Nehemiah 2:18 tn Heb “Arise! Let us rebuild!”
  22. Nehemiah 2:18 tn Heb “strengthened their hands.”
  23. Nehemiah 2:19 tn The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity.
  24. Nehemiah 2:20 tn Heb “will arise and build.” The idiom “arise and…” means to begin the action described by the second verb.
  25. Nehemiah 2:20 tn Heb “portion or right or remembrance.” The expression is probably a hendiatris: The first two nouns retain their full nominal function, while the third noun functions adjectivally (“right or remembrance” = “ancient right”).
Listen to Neemias 2
Close NVI-PT

Neemias 2
Nova Versão Internacional

Neemias em Jerusalém

2 No mês de nisã[a] do vigésimo ano do rei Artaxerxes, na hora de servir-lhe o vinho, levei-o ao rei. Nunca antes eu tinha estado triste na presença dele; 2 por isso o rei me perguntou: “Por que o seu rosto parece tão triste, se você não está doente? Essa tristeza só pode ser do coração!”

Com muito medo, 3 eu disse ao rei: Que o rei viva para sempre! Como não estaria triste o meu rosto, se a cidade em que estão sepultados os meus pais está em ruínas, e as suas portas foram destruídas pelo fogo?

4 O rei me disse: “O que você gostaria de pedir?”

Então orei ao Deus dos céus, 5 e respondi ao rei: Se for do agrado do rei e se o seu servo puder contar com a sua benevolência, que ele me deixe ir à cidade onde meus pais estão enterrados, em Judá, para que eu possa reconstruí-la.

6 Então o rei, estando presente a rainha, sentada ao seu lado, perguntou-me: “Quanto tempo levará a viagem? Quando você voltará?” Marquei um prazo com o rei, e ele concordou que eu fosse.

7 A seguir acrescentei: Se for do agrado do rei, eu poderia levar cartas do rei aos governadores do Trans-Eufrates para que me deixem passar até chegar a Judá. 8 E também uma carta para Asafe, guarda da floresta do rei, para que ele me forneça madeira para as portas da cidadela que fica junto ao templo, para os muros da cidade e para a residência que irei ocupar. Visto que a bondosa mão de Deus estava sobre mim, o rei atendeu os meus pedidos. 9 Com isso fui aos governadores do Trans-Eufrates e lhes entreguei as cartas do rei. Acompanhou-me uma escolta de oficiais do exército e de cavaleiros que o rei enviou comigo.

10 Sambalate, o horonita, e Tobias, o oficial amonita, ficaram muito irritados quando viram que havia gente interessada no bem dos israelitas.

A Inspeção dos Muros de Jerusalém

11 Cheguei a Jerusalém e, depois de três dias de permanência ali, 12 saí de noite com alguns dos meus amigos. Eu não havia contado a ninguém o que o meu Deus havia posto em meu coração que eu fizesse por Jerusalém. Não levava nenhum outro animal além daquele em que eu estava montado.

13 De noite saí pela porta do Vale na direção da fonte do Dragão e da porta do Esterco, examinando o muro de Jerusalém que havia sido derrubado e suas portas, que haviam sido destruídas pelo fogo. 14 Fui até a porta da Fonte e do tanque do Rei, mas ali não havia espaço para o meu animal passar; 15 por isso subi o vale, ainda de noite, examinando o muro. Finalmente voltei e tornei a entrar pela porta do Vale. 16 Os oficiais não sabiam aonde eu tinha ido ou o que eu estava fazendo, pois até então eu não tinha dito nada aos judeus, aos sacerdotes, aos nobres, aos oficiais e aos outros que iriam realizar a obra.

17 Então eu lhes disse: Vejam a situação terrível em que estamos: Jerusalém está em ruínas, e suas portas foram destruídas pelo fogo. Venham, vamos reconstruir os muros de Jerusalém, para que não fiquemos mais nesta situação humilhante. 18 Também lhes contei como Deus tinha sido bondoso comigo e o que o rei me tinha dito.

Eles responderam: “Sim, vamos começar a reconstrução”. E se encheram de coragem para a realização desse bom projeto.

19 Quando, porém, Sambalate, o horonita, Tobias, o oficial amonita, e Gesém, o árabe, souberam disso, zombaram de nós, desprezaram-nos e perguntaram: “O que vocês estão fazendo? Estão se rebelando contra o rei?”

20 Eu lhes respondi: O Deus dos céus fará que sejamos bem-sucedidos. Nós, os seus servos, começaremos a reconstrução, mas, no que lhes diz respeito, vocês não têm parte nem direito legal sobre Jerusalém, e em sua história não há nada de memorável que favoreça vocês!

Footnotes

  1. 2.1 O mesmo que abibe; aproximadamente março/abril.
Listen to Nehemiah 2
Close NIV

Nehemiah 2
New International Version

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,(A) when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever!(B) Why should my face not look sad when the city(C) where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?(D)”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6 Then the king(E), with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates,(F) so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel(G) by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me,(H) the king granted my requests.(I) 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry(J) with me.

10 When Sanballat(K) the Horonite and Tobiah(L) the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.(M)

Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls

11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days(N) 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate(O) toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate,(P) examining the walls(Q) of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate(R) and the King’s Pool,(S) but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.(T) Come, let us rebuild the wall(U) of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.(V)” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me(W) and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19 But when Sanballat(X) the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem(Y) the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us.(Z) “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding,(AA) but as for you, you have no share(AB) in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:13 Or Serpent or Fig
Next
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 3
Next
dropdown
New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Nova Versão Internacional (NVI-PT)

Biblia Sagrada, Nova Versão Internacional®, NVI® Copyright © 1993, 2000 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV