The king sends Nehemiah
And in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, the wine was before him. I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. So the king said to me, Why does your face look sad when you aren't sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was terribly afraid, and I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why shouldn't my face look sad, when the city where my fathers are buried lies waste, and its gates have been burned with fire? Then the king said to me, What are you asking for? So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if you are pleased with your servant, send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so I can rebuild it. And the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him, How long will the journey take, and when will you get back? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time. And I said to the king, If it please the king, let me have letters for the governors of the province beyond the River, so they will let me through until I get to Judah. And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber for the beams of the gates of the fortress by the temple, and for the city wall, and for the house I will live in. And the king granted it, because the good hand of my God was on me. So I came to the governors of the province beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent army officers and horsemen with me. And when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard about it, they were deeply displeased that a man had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites.
And in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine was in front of him. And I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I hadn't been sad in front of him before. So the king said to me: Why does your face look sad, seeing you aren't sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very frightened, and said to the king: Let the king live forever. Why shouldn't my face be sad, when the town, the place of my fathers' graves, lies waste, and its gates are eaten up with fire? Then the king said to me: What do you want? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king: If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you'd send me to Judah, to the town of my fathers' graves, so I can build it. And the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him: How long will your journey be? And when will you come back? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time. And I said to the king: If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, so they'll let me go through till I come into Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so he can give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace by the house, and for the wall of the town and for the house I'll go into. And the king gave it me, according to the good hand of my God on me. Then I came to the governors beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard about it, it grieved them badly that a man had come to look for the good of the people of Israel.
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
And in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, the wine was before him. I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.
And in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, wine was in front of him. And I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I hadn't been sad in front of him before.
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
So the king said to me, Why does your face look sad when you aren't sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was terribly afraid,
So the king said to me: Why does your face look sad, seeing you aren't sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very frightened,
Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
and I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why shouldn't my face look sad, when the city where my fathers are buried lies waste, and its gates have been burned with fire?
and said to the king: Let the king live forever. Why shouldn't my face be sad, when the town, the place of my fathers' graves, lies waste, and its gates are eaten up with fire?
And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
Then the king said to me, What are you asking for? So I prayed to the God of heaven,
Then the king said to me: What do you want? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
and I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if you are pleased with your servant, send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so I can rebuild it.
And I said to the king: If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you'd send me to Judah, to the town of my fathers' graves, so I can build it.
And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
And the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him, How long will the journey take, and when will you get back? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.
And the king said to me, with the queen sitting beside him: How long will your journey be? And when will you come back? So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.
And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
And I said to the king, If it please the king, let me have letters for the governors of the province beyond the River, so they will let me through until I get to Judah.
And I said to the king: If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, so they'll let me go through till I come into Judah,
Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber for the beams of the gates of the fortress by the temple, and for the city wall, and for the house I will live in. And the king granted it, because the good hand of my God was on me.
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so he can give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace by the house, and for the wall of the town and for the house I'll go into. And the king gave it me, according to the good hand of my God on me.
And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
So I came to the governors of the province beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent army officers and horsemen with me.
Then I came to the governors beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
And when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard about it, they were deeply displeased that a man had come to seek the welfare of the Israelites.
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard about it, it grieved them badly that a man had come to look for the good of the people of Israel.
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
Nehemiah looks at the walls
So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I got up in the night with a few men, and I didn't tell anyone what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem. There was no animal with me except the mount I was riding. And I went out by night through the Valley Gate, past the Dragon Well and on to the Dung Gate, and I looked over the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates, which had been burned with fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool. But there was no room for the mount I was riding to get through. So I went up by the brook at night and inspected the wall, then turned back, came in again by the Valley Gate and returned. And the officials didn't know where I had been or what I had been doing. I hadn't told the Jews yet, or the priests, or the nobles, or the officials, or the rest of those who would do the work. Then I said to them: You can see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burned with fire. Come on, let's build up the wall of Jerusalem, so we won't be a disgrace any longer. And I told them how the good hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me. And they said, Let's get up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they laughed us to scorn and despised us, and said, What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king? Then I answered them: The God of heaven will give us success. So we his servants will get up and build. But you have no share and no right and no claim in Jerusalem.
So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. And I didn't tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem. And there wasn't any animal with me except the one I rode on. And I went out by night through the Valley Gate, past the Dragon Well and to the Dung Gate, and looked at the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down, and its gates eaten up with fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool. But there was no place for the animal under me to go past. Then I went up in the night by the brook and looked at the wall, and turned back and came in by the Valley Gate, and so came back. And the rulers didn't know where I'd gone or what I'd done. And I hadn't told the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the rulers or the rest who did the work yet. Then I said to them: You see the trouble we're in, how Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burnt with fire. Come and let's build up the wall of Jerusalem, so we aren't a shame any more. Then I told them about the hand of my God that was good on me, and the king's words that he'd spoken to me. And they said: Let's get up and build. So they made their hands strong for this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they laughed us to scorn and looked down on us: What's this you're doing? Will you rebel against the king? Then I answered them: The God of heaven, he'll make us do well. So we his servants will get up and build. But you've got no share or right or memory in Jerusalem.
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
Then I got up in the night with a few men, and I didn't tell anyone what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem. There was no animal with me except the mount I was riding.
And I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. And I didn't tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem. And there wasn't any animal with me except the one I rode on.
And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
And I went out by night through the Valley Gate, past the Dragon Well and on to the Dung Gate, and I looked over the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates, which had been burned with fire.
And I went out by night through the Valley Gate, past the Dragon Well and to the Dung Gate, and looked at the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down, and its gates eaten up with fire.
And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool. But there was no room for the mount I was riding to get through.
Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool. But there was no place for the animal under me to go past.
Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
So I went up by the brook at night and inspected the wall, then turned back, came in again by the Valley Gate and returned.
Then I went up in the night by the brook and looked at the wall, and turned back and came in by the Valley Gate, and so came back.
Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
And the officials didn't know where I had been or what I had been doing. I hadn't told the Jews yet, or the priests, or the nobles, or the officials, or the rest of those who would do the work.
And the rulers didn't know where I'd gone or what I'd done. And I hadn't told the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the rulers or the rest who did the work yet.
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
Then I said to them: You can see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burned with fire. Come on, let's build up the wall of Jerusalem, so we won't be a disgrace any longer.
Then I said to them: You see the trouble we're in, how Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burnt with fire. Come and let's build up the wall of Jerusalem, so we aren't a shame any more.
Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
And I told them how the good hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me. And they said, Let's get up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Then I told them about the hand of my God that was good on me, and the king's words that he'd spoken to me. And they said: Let's get up and build. So they made their hands strong for this good work.
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they laughed us to scorn and despised us, and said, What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they laughed us to scorn and looked down on us: What's this you're doing? Will you rebel against the king?
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Then I answered them: The God of heaven will give us success. So we his servants will get up and build. But you have no share and no right and no claim in Jerusalem.
Then I answered them: The God of heaven, he'll make us do well. So we his servants will get up and build. But you've got no share or right or memory in Jerusalem.
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.