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Nehemiah 2
New Catholic Bible

Chapter 2

Appointment by the King. 1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, since the wine was my responsibility, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Inasmuch as I had never before showed any sign of sadness in his presence,[a] 2 the king asked me: “Why do you look so depressed? You clearly are not ill. This is the result of your sadness of heart.”

Despite the fact that I was greatly fearful, 3 I said to the king: “May your majesty live forever! How can I possibly fail to be depressed when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 The king then said to me: “What do you wish to request of me?”

Having first prayed to the God of heaven,[b] 5 I said to the king: “If your majesty approves and your servant has found favor with you, I beg you to send me to Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild it.” 6 Then the king—with the queen sitting beside him—said to me: “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” Once I had given the king a specific date that was acceptable to him, he approved my request.

7 Then I said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of West-of-Euphrates with orders to grant me safe passage until I arrive in Judah. 8 I also request that you give me a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, directing that he give me timber for the gates of the citadel adjoining the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the residence I will occupy.” The king granted what I requested, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me.

9 When I came to the governors of West-of-Euphrates, I presented the king’s letters to them. The king had also sent an escort of army officers and cavalry to accompany me. 10 However, when Sanballat[c] the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites.

11 Nehemiah Inspects the Wall.[d]When I arrived in Jerusalem, I rested there for three days. 12 Then I set out by night with just a few other men. I revealed to no one what my God had inspired me to do for Jerusalem, and I took no animal with me other than the one I was riding.

13 I went forth by night through the Valley Gate toward the Dragon Spring as far as the Dung Gate, and I observed how the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins with its gates destroyed by fire. 14 I then passed over to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room there for the animal I was riding to continue.

15 Therefore, I went up by way of the valley in the dark, examining the wall until I once again reached the Valley Gate and re-entered the city. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing. I had not as yet disclosed anything to the Jews, neither to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the magistrates, nor to any of the other persons who were to be involved in the work.[e]

17 Rebuilding Jerusalem’s Walls. Then I said to them: “You now can realize the difficulty we face. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Therefore, we must rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be looked upon as a disgrace.” 18 Then I told them how God had been so extremely gracious to me, and I also revealed the encouragement that the king had given me. They replied: “Let us begin the rebuilding at once,” and they undertook their work vigorously.

19 However when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite slave, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they ridiculed and mocked us, saying: “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 In turn I gave them this answer: “The God of heaven will grant us success, and we his servants intend to start the rebuilding immediately. But as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right in Jerusalem.”

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:1 Sadness in his presence: it was not considered wise to appear depressed before the king—no one in mourning clothes could even be in his presence. The king’s questioning of Nehemiah about his appearance was a dangerous thing.
  2. Nehemiah 2:4 On many occasions in this short Book, we read that Nehemiah invoked God’s assistance before speaking or acting. This shows his trust in God that was the fruit of his ongoing intimate relationship with him.
  3. Nehemiah 2:10 Sanballat: the governor of Samaria, called the “Horonite” from the city of Horonaim in the land of Moab (see Isa 15:5). Tobiah was in all probability a member of a family (the Tobiads) who in the third century B.C. would flourish in the region of the Ammonites.
  4. Nehemiah 2:11 Poets who experienced the disaster have preserved for us their deeply felt and horrified memory of the mass of stones and ruins that made the site of Jerusalem such a sad place (Pss 74; 79; Lam 1; 2; 5).
  5. Nehemiah 2:16 Nehemiah shows great wisdom by inspecting the walls at night and not sharing his mission with anyone until he was prepared to take action. He realized that opening the idea to others would cause controversy among the Jews and lose time that could be used better in completion of the task of rebuilding.
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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
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Neemia 2
Nuova Riveduta 2006

Neemia a Gerusalemme

2 (A)«Nel mese di Nisan[a], il ventesimo anno del re Artaserse, il vino stava davanti al re; io lo presi e glielo versai. Io non ero mai stato triste in sua presenza. 2 Il re mi disse: “Perché hai l’aspetto triste? Eppure non sei malato; non può essere altro che per una preoccupazione”. Allora fui colto da grande paura 3 e dissi al re: “Viva il re per sempre! Come potrei non essere triste quando la città dove sono le tombe dei miei padri è distrutta e le sue porte sono consumate dal fuoco?” 4 E il re mi disse: “Che cosa domandi?” Allora io pregai il Dio del cielo; 5 poi risposi al re: “Se ti sembra giusto e il tuo servo ha incontrato il tuo favore, mandami in Giudea, nella città dove sono le tombe dei miei padri, perché io la ricostruisca”. 6 Il re, che aveva la regina seduta al suo fianco, mi disse: “Quanto durerà il tuo viaggio? Quando ritornerai?” La cosa piacque al re, che mi lasciò andare, e gli indicai una data. 7 Poi dissi al re: “Se il re è disposto, mi si diano delle lettere per i governatori d’oltre il fiume[b] affinché mi lascino passare ed entrare in Giuda, 8 e una lettera per Asaf, guardiano del parco del re, affinché mi dia del legname per costruire le porte della fortezza annessa al tempio del Signore, per le mura della città e per la casa che abiterò”. Il re mi diede le lettere, perché la benefica mano del mio Dio era su di me.

9 Mi recai presso i governatori d’oltre il fiume e diedi loro le lettere del re. Il re mi aveva dato una scorta di ufficiali e di cavalieri. 10 Quando Samballat, il Coronita, e Tobia, il servo ammonita, furono informati del mio arrivo, furono molto contrariati dalla venuta di un uomo che cercava il bene dei figli d’Israele.

11 (B)«Così giunsi a Gerusalemme e, trascorsi tre giorni, 12 mi alzai di notte, presi con me pochi uomini e non parlai a nessuno di quello che Dio mi aveva messo in cuore di fare per Gerusalemme. Non avevo con me altra cavalcatura oltre a quella che usavo. 13 Uscii di notte per la porta della Valle e mi diressi verso la sorgente del Dragone e la porta del Letame, osservando le mura di Gerusalemme, quanto erano rovinate e come le sue porte erano consumate dal fuoco. 14 Passai presso la porta della Sorgente e il serbatoio del Re, ma non c’era posto per cui potesse passare la mia cavalcatura. 15 Allora risalii di notte la valle, sempre osservando le mura; poi, rientrato per la porta della Valle, me ne tornai a casa.

16 Le autorità non sapevano né dove fossi andato né che cosa facessi. Fino a quel momento, io non avevo detto nulla né ai Giudei, né ai sacerdoti, né ai notabili, né ai magistrati, né ad alcuno di quelli che si occupavano dei lavori. 17 Allora dissi loro: “Voi vedete in che misera condizione ci troviamo; Gerusalemme è distrutta e le sue porte sono consumate dal fuoco! Venite, ricostruiamo le mura di Gerusalemme, e non saremo più nella vergogna!” 18 Raccontai loro come la benefica mano del mio Dio era stata su di me e riferii le parole che il re mi aveva dette. Quelli dissero: “Sbrighiamoci e mettiamoci a costruire!” E si fecero coraggio con questo buon proposito.

19 Ma quando Samballat, il Coronita, e Tobia, il servo ammonita, e Ghesem, l’Arabo, lo seppero, si fecero beffe di noi e ci disprezzarono dicendo: “Che cosa state facendo? Volete forse ribellarvi al re?” 20 Allora risposi loro: “Il Dio del cielo ci farà ottenere successo. Noi, suoi servi, ci alzeremo e costruiremo; ma voi non avete né parte, né diritto, né memoria a Gerusalemme”.

Footnotes

  1. Neemia 2:1 Nel mese di Nisan, primo mese dell’anno giudaico; corrisponde a marzo-aprile.
  2. Neemia 2:7 Fiume, cioè l’Eufrate.
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Nehemiah 2
New King James Version

Nehemiah Sent to Judah

2 And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of (A)King [a]Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that (B)I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. 2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but (C)sorrow of heart.”

So I became [b]dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, (D)“May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when (E)the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with (F)fire?”

4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”

So I (G)prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him (H)a time.

7 Furthermore I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the (I)governors of the region beyond [c]the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the [d]citadel which pertains (J)to the [e]temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy.” And the king granted them to me (K)according to the good hand of my God upon me.

9 Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When (L)Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite [f]official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

Nehemiah Views the Wall of Jerusalem

11 So I (M)came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. 13 And I went out by night (N)through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the [g]Refuse Gate, and [h]viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were (O)broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the (P)Fountain Gate and to the (Q)King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the (R)valley,[i] and [j]viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies [k]waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be (S)a reproach.” 18 And I told them of (T)the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.

So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they (U)set[l] their hands to this good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? (V)Will you rebel against the king?”

20 So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, (W)but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 2:1 Artaxerxes Longimanus
  2. Nehemiah 2:2 Lit. very much
  3. Nehemiah 2:7 The Euphrates
  4. Nehemiah 2:8 palace
  5. Nehemiah 2:8 Lit. house
  6. Nehemiah 2:10 Lit. servant
  7. Nehemiah 2:13 Dung
  8. Nehemiah 2:13 examined
  9. Nehemiah 2:15 torrent valley, wadi
  10. Nehemiah 2:15 examined
  11. Nehemiah 2:17 desolate
  12. Nehemiah 2:18 Lit. strengthened
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