Dual Panel1Then in the month <02320> of Nisan <05212>, in the twentieth <06242> year <08141> of King <04428> Artaxerxes <0783>, when wine <03196> was brought to me, I took <05375> the wine <03196> and gave <05414> it to the king <04428>. Previously I had not <03808> been <01961> depressed <07451> in the king’s presence <06440>.
2So the king <04428> said <0559> to me, “Why <04069> do you appear <06440> to be depressed <07451> when you <0859> aren’t <0369> sick <02470>? What can this <02088> be other than sadness <07455> of heart <03820>?” This made <03372> me very <03966> fearful <03372>.
3I replied <0559> to the king <04428>, “O king <04428>, live <02421> forever <05769>! Why <04069> would I not <03808> appear dejected <07489> when <0834> the city <05892> with the graves <06913> of my ancestors <01> lies desolate <02717> and its gates <08179> destroyed <0398> by fire <0784>?”
4The king <04428> responded <0559>, “What <04100> is it <02088> you <0859> are seeking <01245>?” Then I quickly prayed <06419> to <0413> the God <0430> of heaven <08064>
5and said <0559> to the king <04428>, “If <0518> the king <04428> is so inclined <02895> and if <0518> your servant <05650> has found favor <03190> in your sight <06440>, dispatch <07971> me to <0413> Judah <03063>, to <0413> the city <05892> with the graves <06913> of my ancestors <01>, so that I can rebuild <01129> it.”
6Then the king <04428>, with his consort <07694> sitting <03427> beside <0681> him, replied <0559>, “How <04970> long <05704> would your trip <04109> take <01961>, and when <04970> would you return <07725>?” Since the king <04428> was amenable to dispatching <07971> me, I gave <05414> him a time <02165>.
7I said <0559> to the king <04428>, “If <0518> the king <04428> is so inclined <02895>, let him give me letters <0107> for <05921> the governors <06346> of Trans-Euphrates <05104> <05676> that <0834> will enable me to travel <05674> safely until <05704> I reach <0935> Judah <03063>,
8and a letter <0107> for <0413> Asaph <0623> the keeper <08104> of the king’s <04428> nature preserve <06508>, so that <0834> he will give <05414> me timber <06086> for beams <07136> for the <0853> gates <08179> of the fortress <01002> adjacent to <0834> the temple <01004> and for the city <05892> wall <02346> and for the house <01004> to <0413> which <0834> I go <0935>.” So the king <04428> granted <05414> me these requests, for the good <02896> hand <03027> of my God <0430> was on <05921> me.
9Then I went <0935> to <0413> the governors <06346> of Trans-Euphrates <05104> <05676>, and I presented <05414> to them the <0853> letters <0107> from the king <04428>. The king <04428> had sent <07971> with <05973> me officers <08269> of the army <02428> and horsemen <06571>.
10When Sanballat <05571> the Horonite <02772> and Tobiah <02900> the Ammonite <05984> official <05650> heard <08085> all this, they <01992> were very <01419> displeased <07451> <07489> that <0834> someone <0120> had come <0935> to seek <01245> benefit <02896> for the Israelites <03478> <01121>.
11So I came <0935> to <0413> Jerusalem <03389>. When I had been <01961> there <08033> for three <07969> days <03117>,
12I <0589> got up <06965> during the night <03915>, along with a few <04592> men <0376> who were with <05973> me. But I did not <03808> tell <05046> anyone <0120> what <04100> my God <0430> was putting <05414> on <0413> my heart <03820> to do <06213> for Jerusalem <03389>. There were no <0369> animals <0929> with <05973> me, except <0518> <03588> for <0834> the one <0929> I <0589> was riding <07392>.
13I proceeded <03318> through the Valley <01516> Gate <08179> by night <03915>, in <0413> the direction <06440> of the Well <05869> of the Dragons <08577> and the Dung <0830> Gate <08179>, inspecting <07663> the walls <02346> of Jerusalem <03389> that had <0834> been breached <06555> and its gates <08179> that had been destroyed <0398> by fire <0784>.
14I passed on <05674> to <0413> the Gate <08179> of the Well and the King’s <04428> Pool <01295>, where there was not <0369> enough room <04725> for my animal <0929> to pass <05674> with <08478> me.
15I continued up <05927> the valley <05158> during the night <03915>, inspecting <07663> the wall <02346>. Then I turned back <07725> and came <0935> to the Valley <01516> Gate <08179>, and so returned <07725>.
16The officials <05461> did not <03808> know <03045> where <0575> I had gone <01980> or what <04100> I <0589> had been doing <06213>, for up to <05704> this point <03651> I had not <03808> told <05046> any of the Jews <03064> or the priests <03548> or the nobles <02715> or the officials <05461> or the rest <03499> of the workers <04399>.
17Then I said <0559> to <0413> them, “You <0859> see <07200> the problem <07451> that <0834> we <0587> have: Jerusalem <03389> is desolate <02717> and its gates <08179> are burned <03341>. Come on <01980>! Let’s rebuild <01129> the wall <02346> of Jerusalem <03389> so that this reproach <02781> will not <03808> continue <05750> <01961>.”
18Then I related <05046> to them how <0834> the good <02896> hand <03027> of my God <0430> was on <05921> me and what <0834> the king <04428> had said <0559> to me. Then they replied <0559>, “Let’s begin <06965> rebuilding right away <01129>!” So they readied <02388> themselves for this good <02896> project.
19But when Sanballat <05571> the Horonite <02772>, Tobiah <02900> the Ammonite <05984> official <05650>, and Geshem <01654> the Arab <06163> heard <08085> all this, they derided <03932> us and expressed contempt <0959> toward <05921> us. They said <0559>, “What <04100> is this <02088> you <0859> are doing <06213>? Are you <0859> rebelling <04775> against <05921> the king <04428>?”
20I responded <07725> to them by saying <0559>, “The God <0430> of heaven <08064> will prosper <06743> us. We <0587> his servants <05650> will start <06965> the rebuilding <01129>. But you have no <0369> just <02506> or ancient <02146> right <06666> in Jerusalem <03389>.”