← 4 | ← Nehemiah | 6 →
Chapter 5
Nehemiah Defends the Oppressed
1
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.
𐤅𐤕𐤄𐤉 𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋𐤄 𐤑𐤏𐤒𐤕 𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤀𐤋 𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤄𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤌
וַתְּהִ֨י גְּדוֹלָ֑ה צַעֲקַ֥ת הָעָ֛ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם אֶל־ אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ wat·tə·hî gə·ḏō·w·lāh ṣa·‘ă·qaṯ hā·‘ām ū·nə·šê·hem ’el- ’ă·ḥê·hem hay·yə·hū·ḏîm — WLC · 1
2
- Some were saying, “We [and] our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.”
𐤅𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤍𐤒𐤇𐤄 𐤃𐤂𐤍 𐤅𐤍𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤄 𐤅𐤍𐤇𐤉𐤄
וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים אֲנַ֣חְנוּ בָּנֵ֥ינוּ וּבְנֹתֵ֖ינוּ רַבִּ֑ים וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן וְנֹאכְלָ֥ה וְנִחְיֶֽה׃ wə·yêš ’ă·šer ’ō·mə·rîm ’ă·naḥ·nū bā·nê·nū ū·ḇə·nō·ṯê·nū rab·bîm wə·niq·ḥāh ḏā·ḡān wə·nō·ḵə·lāh wə·niḥ·yeh — WLC · 2
3
- Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
𐤅𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤏𐤓𐤁𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤃𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤊𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤁𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤍𐤒𐤇𐤄 𐤃𐤂𐤍 𐤁𐤓𐤏𐤁
וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹרְבִ֑ים שְׂדֹתֵ֛ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֥ינוּ וּבָתֵּ֖ינוּ וְנִקְחָ֥ה דָגָ֖ן בָּרָעָֽב׃ wə·yêš ’ă·šer ’ō·mə·rîm ’ă·naḥ·nū ‘ō·rə·ḇîm śə·ḏō·ṯê·nū ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū ū·ḇāt·tê·nū wə·niq·ḥāh ḏā·ḡān bā·rā·‘āḇ — WLC · 3
4
- Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money [to pay] the king’s tax [on] our fields and vineyards.
𐤅𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤅𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤌𐤃𐤕 𐤔𐤃𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤊𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤍𐤅
וְיֵשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֹמְרִ֔ים לָוִ֥ינוּ כֶ֖סֶף הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לְמִדַּ֣ת שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ וּכְרָמֵֽינוּ׃ wə·yêš ’ă·šer ’ō·mə·rîm lā·wî·nū ḵe·sep̄ ham·me·leḵ lə·mid·daṯ śə·ḏō·ṯê·nū ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū — WLC · 4
5
- We and our children are just like our countrymen… and their children,… yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless [to redeem them]… because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
𐤅𐤏𐤕𐤄 𐤊𐤁𐤔𐤓 𐤊𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤁𐤔𐤓𐤍𐤅 𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤍𐤄 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤊𐤁𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤁𐤍𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤔 𐤌𐤁𐤍𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤍𐤊𐤁𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤀𐤋 𐤉𐤃𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤔𐤃𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤊𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤋𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤌
וְעַתָּ֗ה כִּבְשַׂ֤ר כִּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם אַחֵ֙ינוּ֙ בְּשָׂרֵ֔נוּ בָּנֵ֑ינוּ וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֲנַ֣חְנוּ כֹ֠בְשִׁים אֶת־ בָּנֵ֨ינוּ וְאֶת־ בְּנֹתֵ֜ינוּ לַעֲבָדִ֗ים וְיֵ֨שׁ מִבְּנֹתֵ֤ינוּ נִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙ וְאֵ֣ין לְאֵ֣ל יָדֵ֔נוּ וּשְׂדֹתֵ֥ינוּ וּכְרָמֵ֖ינוּ לַאֲחֵרִֽים׃ wə·‘at·tāh kiḇ·śar kiḇ·nê·hem ’a·ḥê·nū bə·śā·rê·nū bā·nê·nū wə·hin·nêh ’ă·naḥ·nū ḵō·ḇə·šîm ’eṯ- bā·nê·nū wə·’eṯ- bə·nō·ṯê·nū la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm wə·yêš mib·bə·nō·ṯê·nū niḵ·bā·šō·wṯ wə·’ên lə·’êl yā·ḏê·nū ū·śə·ḏō·ṯê·nū ū·ḵə·rā·mê·nū la·’ă·ḥê·rîm — WLC · 5
6
When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,
𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤕𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤆𐤏𐤒𐤕𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤀𐤃 𐤅𐤉𐤇𐤓 𐤋𐤉
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־ זַֽעֲקָתָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ הַדְּבָרִ֥ים מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּ֥חַר לִ֖י ka·’ă·šer šā·ma‘·tî ’eṯ- za·‘ă·qā·ṯām wə·’êṯ hā·’êl·leh had·də·ḇā·rîm mə·’ōḏ way·yi·ḥar lî — WLC · 6
7
and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles… and officials, saying “vvv You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤅𐤉𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤏𐤋𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤁𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤎𐤂𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤄 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤕𐤌 𐤍𐤔𐤀𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤔𐤀 𐤁𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤅 𐤅𐤀𐤕𐤍 𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋𐤄 𐤒𐤄𐤋𐤄 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤌
לִבִּ֜י וַיִּמָּלֵ֨ךְ עָלַ֗י וָאָרִ֙יבָה֙ אֶת־ הַחֹרִ֣ים וְאֶת־ הַסְּגָנִ֔ים וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם אִישׁ־ אַתֶּ֣ם נֹשִׁ֑אים מַשָּׁ֥א בְּאָחִ֖יו וָאֶתֵּ֥ן גְדוֹלָֽה׃ קְהִלָּ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם lib·bî way·yim·mā·lêḵ ‘ā·lay wā·’ā·rî·ḇāh ’eṯ- ha·ḥō·rîm wə·’eṯ- has·sə·ḡā·nîm wā·’ō·mə·rāh lā·hem ’îš- ’at·tem nō·šim maš·šā bə·’ā·ḥîw wā·’et·tên ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh qə·hil·lāh ‘ă·lê·hem — WLC · 7
8
and said “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.
𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤄 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤅 𐤊𐤃𐤉 𐤁𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤒𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤄𐤍𐤌𐤊𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤂𐤅𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕𐤌 𐤕𐤌𐤊𐤓𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤊𐤌 𐤅𐤍𐤌𐤊𐤓𐤅 𐤋𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤉𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤔𐤅 𐤌𐤑𐤀𐤅 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤎
וָאֹמְרָ֣ה לָהֶ֗ם אֲנַ֣חְנוּ כְּדֵ֣י בָ֔נוּ וְגַם־ קָ֠נִינוּ אֶת־ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים אַחֵ֨ינוּ הַנִּמְכָּרִ֤ים לַגּוֹיִם֙ אַתֶּ֛ם תִּמְכְּר֥וּ אֶת־ אֲחֵיכֶ֖ם וְנִמְכְּרוּ־ לָ֑נוּ וַֽיַּחֲרִ֔ישׁוּ מָצְא֖וּ וְלֹ֥א דָּבָֽר׃ס wā·’ō·mə·rāh lā·hem ’ă·naḥ·nū kə·ḏê ḇā·nū wə·ḡam- qā·nî·nū ’eṯ- hay·yə·hū·ḏîm ’a·ḥê·nū han·nim·kā·rîm lag·gō·w·yim ’at·tem tim·kə·rū ’eṯ- ’ă·ḥê·ḵem wə·nim·kə·rū- lā·nū way·ya·ḥă·rî·šū mā·ṣə·’ū wə·lō dā·ḇār — WLC · 8
9
So I continued, “What you are doing is not right… Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?
𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤕𐤌 𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤋𐤅𐤀 𐤕𐤋𐤊𐤅 𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤌𐤇𐤓𐤐𐤕 𐤄𐤂𐤅𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤅𐤉𐤁𐤉𐤍𐤅
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲשֶׁר־ אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים לֹא־ ט֥וֹב הַדָּבָ֖ר הֲל֞וֹא תֵּלֵ֔כוּ בְּיִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ מֵחֶרְפַּ֖ת הַגּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ way·yō·mɛr ’ă·šer- ’at·tem ‘ō·śîm lō- ṭō·wḇ had·dā·ḇār hă·lō·w tê·lê·ḵū bə·yir·’aṯ ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū mê·ḥer·paṯ hag·gō·w·yim ’ō·wy·ḇê·nū — WLC · 9
10
I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending [the people] money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤀𐤇𐤉 𐤅𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤉 𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤄𐤌 𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤅𐤃𐤂𐤍 𐤍𐤀 𐤀𐤕 𐤍𐤏𐤆𐤁𐤄 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤌𐤔𐤀
אֲנִי֙ וְגַם־ אַחַ֣י וּנְעָרַ֔י נֹשִׁ֥ים בָּהֶ֖ם כֶּ֣סֶף וְדָגָ֑ן נָּ֖א אֶת־ נַֽעַזְבָה־ הַזֶּֽה׃ הַמַּשָּׁ֥א ’ă·nî wə·ḡam- ’a·ḥay ū·nə·‘ā·ray nō·šîm bā·hem ke·sep̄ wə·ḏā·ḡān nā ’eṯ- na·‘az·ḇāh- haz·zeh ham·maš·šā — WLC · 10
11
Please restore to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and oil that you have been assessing them.”
𐤍𐤀 𐤄𐤔𐤉𐤁𐤅 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤊𐤄𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤔𐤃𐤕𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤊𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤆𐤉𐤕𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤅𐤁𐤕𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤅𐤌𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤅𐤄𐤃𐤂𐤍 𐤄𐤕𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔 𐤅𐤄𐤉𐤑𐤄𐤓 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤕𐤌 𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤄𐤌
נָ֨א הָשִׁיבוּ֩ לָהֶ֜ם כְּהַיּ֗וֹם שְׂדֹתֵיהֶ֛ם כַּרְמֵיהֶ֥ם זֵיתֵיהֶ֖ם וּבָתֵּיהֶ֑ם וּמְאַ֨ת הַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַדָּגָן֙ הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם נֹשִׁ֥ים בָּהֶֽם׃ nā hā·šî·ḇū lā·hem kə·hay·yō·wm śə·ḏō·ṯê·hem kar·mê·hem zê·ṯê·hem ū·ḇāt·tê·hem ū·mə·’aṯ hak·ke·sep̄ wə·had·dā·ḡān hat·tî·rō·wōš wə·hay·yiṣ·hār ’ă·šer ’at·tem nō·šîm bā·hem — WLC · 11
12
“We will restore [it],” they replied, “and will require… nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and required [of the nobles and officials] an oath that they would do what they had promised…
𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤁 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤅 𐤍𐤁𐤒𐤔 𐤊𐤍 𐤋𐤀 𐤅𐤌𐤄𐤌 𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤕𐤄 𐤀𐤅𐤌𐤓 𐤅𐤀𐤒𐤓𐤀 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤊𐤄𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤔𐤁𐤉𐤏𐤌 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤊𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤆𐤄
נָשִׁ֗יב וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ נְבַקֵּ֔שׁ כֵּ֣ן לֹ֣א וּמֵהֶם֙ נַעֲשֶׂ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה אוֹמֵ֑ר וָאֶקְרָא֙ אֶת־ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וָֽאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ nā·šîḇ way·yō·mə·rū nə·ḇaq·qêš kên lō ū·mê·hem na·‘ă·śeh ka·’ă·šer ’at·tāh ’ō·w·mêr wā·’eq·rā ’eṯ- hak·kō·hă·nîm wā·’aš·bî·‘êm la·‘ă·śō·wṯ kad·dā·ḇār haz·zeh — WLC · 12
13
I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions… every man who does not keep this promise. May [such a man] be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised…
𐤂𐤌 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤇𐤑𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤄 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤊𐤄 𐤉𐤍𐤏𐤓 𐤌𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤅 𐤅𐤌𐤉𐤂𐤉𐤏𐤅 𐤅𐤊𐤊𐤄 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤀 𐤉𐤒𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤍𐤏𐤅𐤓 𐤅𐤓𐤒 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤒𐤄𐤋 𐤅𐤉𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤅 𐤀𐤌𐤍 𐤅𐤉𐤄𐤋𐤋𐤅 𐤀𐤕 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤏𐤔 𐤊𐤃𐤁𐤓 𐤄𐤆𐤄
גַּם־ נָעַ֗רְתִּי חָצְנִ֣י וָֽאֹמְרָ֡ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֟ים אֶת־ כָּ֣כָה יְנַעֵ֪ר מִבֵּיתוֹ֙ וּמִ֣יגִיע֔וֹ וְכָ֛כָה כָּל־ הָאִישׁ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־ יָקִ֜ים אֶת־ הַזֶּ֗ה הַדָּבָ֣ר יִהְיֶ֥ה נָע֖וּר וָרֵ֑ק כָֽל־ הַקָּהָ֜ל וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אָמֵ֗ן וַֽיְהַלְלוּ֙ אֶת־ יְהוָ֔ה הָעָ֖ם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃ gam- nā·‘ar·tî ḥā·ṣə·nî wā·’ō·mə·rāh hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm ’eṯ- kā·ḵāh yə·na·‘êr mib·bê·ṯōw ū·mî·ḡî·‘ōw wə·ḵā·ḵāh kāl- hā·’îš ’ă·šer lō- yā·qîm ’eṯ- haz·zeh had·dā·ḇār yih·yeh nā·‘ūr wā·rêq ḵāl haq·qā·hāl way·yō·mə·rū ’ā·mên way·hal·lū ’eṯ- Yah·weh hā·‘ām way·ya·‘aś kad·dā·ḇār haz·zeh — WLC · 13
Nehemiah’s Generosity
14
Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second… year (twelve… years total), neither I nor my brothers… ate the food allotted to the governor.
𐤂𐤌 𐤌𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤋𐤀𐤓𐤕𐤇𐤔𐤎𐤕𐤀 𐤑𐤅𐤄 𐤀𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤅𐤕 𐤐𐤇𐤌 𐤁𐤀𐤓𐤑 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤄 𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤅𐤏𐤃 𐤔𐤋𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤔𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤄 𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤇𐤉 𐤋𐤀 𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤇𐤌 𐤄𐤐𐤇𐤄
גַּ֞ם מִיּ֣וֹם׀ אֲשֶׁר־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא צִוָּ֣ה אֹתִ֗י לִהְי֣וֹת פֶּחָם֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָה֒ עֶשְׂרִ֗ים מִשְּׁנַ֣ת וְ֠עַד שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ שְׁנַ֨ת שְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֑ה שָׁנִ֖ים אֲנִ֣י וְאַחַ֔י לֹ֥א אָכַֽלְתִּי׃ לֶ֥חֶם הַפֶּ֖חָה gam mî·yō·wm ’ă·šer- ham·me·leḵ lə·’ar·taḥ·šast ṣiw·wāh ’ō·ṯî lih·yō·wṯ pe·ḥām bə·’e·reṣ yə·hū·ḏāh ‘eś·rîm miš·šə·naṯ wə·‘aḏ šə·lō·šîm ū·šə·ta·yim šə·naṯ šə·têm ‘eś·rêh šā·nîm ’ă·nî wə·’a·ḥay lō ’ā·ḵal·tî le·ḥem hap·pe·ḥāh — WLC · 14
15
The governors… before me had heavily burdened… the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed… the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
𐤅𐤄𐤐𐤇𐤅𐤕 𐤄𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤊𐤁𐤉𐤃𐤅 𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤒𐤇𐤅 𐤌𐤄𐤌 𐤁𐤋𐤇𐤌 𐤅𐤉𐤉𐤍 𐤀𐤇𐤓 𐤀𐤓𐤁𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤒𐤋𐤉𐤌 𐤊𐤎𐤐 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤂𐤌 𐤔𐤋𐤈𐤅 𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤍 𐤌𐤐𐤍𐤉 𐤉𐤓𐤀𐤕 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌
וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ הָרִאשֹׁנִ֨ים אֲשֶׁר־ לְפָנַ֜י הִכְבִּ֣ידוּ עַל־ הָעָ֗ם וַיִּקְח֨וּ מֵהֶ֜ם בְּלֶ֤חֶם וָיַ֙יִן֙ אַחַר֙ אַרְבָּעִ֔ים שְׁקָלִ֣ים כֶּֽסֶף־ נַעֲרֵיהֶ֖ם גַּ֥ם שָׁלְט֣וּ עַל־ הָעָ֑ם וַאֲנִי֙ לֹא־ עָשִׂ֣יתִי כֵ֔ן מִפְּנֵ֖י יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃ wə·hap·pa·ḥō·wṯ hā·ri·šō·nîm ’ă·šer- lə·p̄ā·nay hiḵ·bî·ḏū ‘al- hā·‘ām way·yiq·ḥū mê·hem bə·le·ḥem wā·ya·yin ’a·ḥar ’ar·bā·‘îm šə·qā·lîm ke·sep̄- na·‘ă·rê·hem gam šā·lə·ṭū ‘al- hā·‘ām wa·’ă·nî lō- ‘ā·śî·ṯî ḵên mip·pə·nê yir·’aṯ ’ĕ·lō·hîm — WLC · 15
16
Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.
𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤄𐤇𐤆𐤒𐤕𐤉 𐤁𐤌𐤋𐤀𐤊𐤕 𐤄𐤆𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤇𐤅𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤊𐤋 𐤍𐤏𐤓𐤉 𐤒𐤁𐤅𐤑𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤌 𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤀𐤊𐤄 𐤋𐤀 𐤒𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤅𐤔𐤃𐤄
וְ֠גַם הֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּי בִּמְלֶ֜אכֶת הַזֹּאת֙ הַחוֹמָ֤ה וְכָל־ נְעָרַ֔י קְבוּצִ֥ים שָׁ֖ם עַל־ הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ לֹ֣א קָנִ֑ינוּ וְשָׂדֶ֖ה wə·ḡam he·ḥĕ·zaq·tî bim·le·ḵeṯ haz·zōṯ ha·ḥō·w·māh wə·ḵāl nə·‘ā·ray qə·ḇū·ṣîm šām ‘al- ham·mə·lā·ḵāh lō qā·nî·nū wə·śā·ḏeh — WLC · 16
17
There were 150… Jews and officials at my table, besides the guests… from the surrounding nations.
𐤌𐤀𐤄 𐤅𐤇𐤌𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤅𐤄𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤄𐤎𐤂𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤏𐤋 𐤔𐤋𐤇𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤄𐤁𐤀𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤌𐤍 𐤎𐤁𐤉𐤁𐤕𐤉𐤍𐤅 𐤄𐤂𐤅𐤉𐤌
מֵאָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ וְהַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְהַסְּגָנִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־ עַל־ שֻׁלְחָנִֽי׃ וְהַבָּאִ֥ים אֵלֵ֛ינוּ מִן־ סְבִיבֹתֵ֖ינוּ הַגּוֹיִ֥ם mê·’āh wa·ḥă·miš·šîm ’îš wə·hay·yə·hū·ḏîm wə·has·sə·ḡā·nîm ’ă·šer- ‘al- šul·ḥā·nî wə·hab·bā·’îm ’ê·lê·nū min- sə·ḇî·ḇō·ṯê·nū hag·gō·w·yim — WLC · 17
18
- Each day one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance… of all kinds of wine [was provided]. But I did not demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people… was so heavy.
𐤅𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤉𐤄 𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤋𐤉𐤅𐤌 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤔𐤅𐤓 𐤔𐤔 𐤁𐤓𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤑𐤀𐤍 𐤅𐤑𐤐𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤅 𐤋𐤉 𐤅𐤁𐤉𐤍 𐤏𐤔𐤓𐤕 𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤋𐤄𐤓𐤁𐤄 𐤅𐤏𐤌 𐤆𐤄 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤀 𐤁𐤒𐤔𐤕𐤉 𐤋𐤇𐤌 𐤄𐤐𐤇𐤄 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤄 𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤏𐤌 𐤄𐤆𐤄 𐤊𐤁𐤃𐤄
וַאֲשֶׁר֩ הָיָ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה אֶחָ֗ד לְי֣וֹם אֶחָ֞ד שׁ֣וֹר שֵׁשׁ־ בְּרֻר֤וֹת צֹ֠אן וְצִפֳּרִים֙ נַֽעֲשׂוּ־ לִ֔י וּבֵ֨ין עֲשֶׂ֧רֶת יָמִ֛ים לְהַרְבֵּ֑ה וְעִם־ זֶ֗ה בְּכָל־ יַ֖יִן לֹ֣א בִקַּ֔שְׁתִּי לֶ֤חֶם הַפֶּחָה֙ כִּֽי־ הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה עַל־ הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה׃ כָֽבְדָ֥ה wa·’ă·šer hā·yāh na·‘ă·śeh ’e·ḥāḏ lə·yō·wm ’e·ḥāḏ šō·wr šêš- bə·ru·rō·wṯ ṣōn wə·ṣip·po·rîm na·‘ă·śū- lî ū·ḇên ‘ă·śe·reṯ yā·mîm lə·har·bêh wə·‘im- zeh bə·ḵāl ya·yin lō ḇiq·qaš·tî le·ḥem hap·pe·ḥāh kî- hā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh ‘al- hā·‘ām haz·zeh ḵā·ḇə·ḏāh — WLC · 18
19
Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
𐤆𐤊𐤓𐤄 𐤋𐤉 𐤋𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤄 𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤏𐤋 𐤄𐤆𐤄𐤐 𐤄𐤏𐤌
זָכְרָה־ לִּ֥י לְטוֹבָ֑ה אֱלֹהַ֖י כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ עָשִׂ֖יתִי עַל־ הַזֶּֽה׃פ הָעָ֥ם zā·ḵə·rāh- lî lə·ṭō·w·ḇāh ’ĕ·lō·hay kōl ’ă·šer- ‘ā·śî·ṯî ‘al- haz·zeh hā·‘ām — WLC · 19