Nehemiah 1 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Nehemiah 2

¹In the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, I picked up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence.

KJVAnd it came to pass in the month^H2320 Nisan^H5212, in the twentieth^H6242 year^H8141 of Artaxerxes^H783 the king^H4428, that wine^H3196 was before^H6440 him: and I took up^H5375^(H8799) the wine^H3196, and gave^H5414^(H8799) it unto the king^H4428. Now I had not been beforetime sad^H7451 in his presence^H6440.

² The king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.

KJVWherefore the king^H4428 said^H559^(H8799) unto me, Why is thy countenance^H6440 sad^H7451, seeing thou art not sick^H2470^(H8802)? this is nothing else but sorrow^H7455 of heart^H3820. Then I was very^H3966 sore^H7235^(H8687) afraid^H3372^(H8799),

³ I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?”

KJVAnd said^H559^(H8799) unto the king^H4428, Let the king^H4428 live^H2421^(H8799) for ever^H5769: why should not my countenance^H6440 be sad^H3415^(H8799), when the city^H5892, the place^H1004 of my fathers^H1' sepulchres^H6913, lieth waste^H2720, and the gates^H8179 thereof are consumed^H398^(H8795) with fire^H784?

⁴ Then the king said to me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.

KJVThen the king^H4428 said^H559^(H8799) unto me, For what dost thou make request^H1245^(H8764)? So I prayed^H6419^(H8691) to the God^H430 of heaven^H8064.

⁵ I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.”

KJVAnd I said^H559^(H8799) unto the king^H4428, If it please^H2895^(H8804) the king^H4428, and if thy servant^H5650 have found favour^H3190^(H8799) in thy sight^H6440, that thou wouldest send^H7971^(H8799) me unto Judah^H3063, unto the city^H5892 of my fathers^H1' sepulchres^H6913, that I may build^H1129^(H8799) it.

⁶ The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), “How long will your journey be? When will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time for him.

KJVAnd the king^H4428 said^H559^(H8799) unto me,(the queen^H7694 also sitting^H3427^(H8802) by him^H681,) For how long shall thy journey^H4109 be? and when wilt thou return^H7725^(H8799)? So it pleased^H3190^(H8799)^H6440 the king^H4428 to send^H7971^(H8799) me; and I set^H5414^(H8799) him a time^H2165.

⁷ Moreover I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah;

KJVMoreover I said^H559^(H8799) unto the king^H4428, If it please^H2895^(H8804) the king^H4428, let letters^H107 be given^H5414^(H8799) me to the governors^H6346 beyond^H5676 the river^H5104, that they may convey me over^H5674^(H8686) till I come^H935^(H8799) into Judah^H3063;

⁸ and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I will occupy.” The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

KJVAnd a letter^H107 unto Asaph^H623 the keeper^H8104^(H8802) of the king's^H4428 forest^H6508, that he may give^H5414^(H8799) me timber^H6086 to make beams^H7136^(H8763) for the gates^H8179 of the palace^H1002 which appertained to the house^H1004, and for the wall^H2346 of the city^H5892, and for the house^H1004 that I shall enter into^H935^(H8799). And the king^H4428 granted^H5414^(H8799) me, according to the good^H2896 hand^H3027 of my God^H430 upon me.

⁹ 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.

KJVThen I came^H935^(H8799) to the governors^H6346 beyond^H5676 the river^H5104, and gave^H5414^(H8799) them the king's^H4428 letters^H107. Now the king^H4428 had sent^H7971^(H8799) captains^H8269 of the army^H2428 and horsemen^H6571 with me.

¹⁰ When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

KJVWhen Sanballat^H5571 the Horonite^H2772, and Tobiah^H2900 the servant^H5650, the Ammonite^H5984, heard^H8085^(H8799) of it, it grieved^H3415^(H8799) them exceedingly^H7451^H1419 that there was come^H935^(H8804) a man^H120 to seek^H1245^(H8763) the welfare^H2896 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478.

¹¹ So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

KJVSo I came^H935^(H8799) to Jerusalem^H3389, and was there three^H7969 days^H3117.

¹² I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There wasn’t any animal with me except the animal that I rode on.

KJVAnd I arose^H6965^(H8799) in the night^H3915, I and some^H4592 few^H4592 men^H582 with me; neither told^H5046^(H8689) I any man^H120 what my God^H430 had put^H5414^(H8802) in my heart^H3820 to do^H6213^(H8800) at Jerusalem^H3389: neither was there any beast^H929 with me, save the beast^H929 that I rode upon^H7392^(H8802).

¹³ I went out by night by the valley gate toward the jackal’s well, then to the dung gate; and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire.

KJVAnd I went out^H3318^(H8799) by night^H3915 by the gate^H8179 of the valley^H1516, even before^H6440 the dragon^H8577 well^H5869^(H8677)^H5886, and to the dung^H830 port^H8179, and viewed^H7663^(H8802)^(H8675)^H7665^(H8799) the walls^H2346 of Jerusalem^H3389, which were broken down^H6555^(H8803), and the gates^H8179 thereof were consumed^H398^(H8795) with fire^H784.

¹⁴ Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.

KJVThen I went on^H5674^(H8799) to the gate^H8179 of the fountain^H5869, and to the king's^H4428 pool^H1295: but there was no place^H4725 for the beast^H929 that was under me to pass^H5674^(H8800).

¹⁵ Then I went up in the night by the brook and inspected the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.

KJVThen went I up^H5927^(H8802) in the night^H3915 by the brook^H5158, and viewed^H7663^(H8802)^(H8675)^H7665^(H8799) the wall^H2346, and turned back^H7725^(H8799), and entered^H935^(H8799) by the gate^H8179 of the valley^H1516, and so returned^H7725^(H8799).

¹⁶ The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did. I had not as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.

KJVAnd the rulers^H5461 knew^H3045^(H8804) not whither I went^H1980^(H8804), or what I did^H6213^(H8802); neither had I as yet^H3651 told^H5046^(H8689) it to the Jews^H3064, nor to the priests^H3548, nor to the nobles^H2715, nor to the rulers^H5461, nor to the rest^H3499 that did^H6213^(H8802) the work^H4399.

¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let’s build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won’t be disgraced.”

KJVThen said^H559^(H8799) I unto them, Ye see^H7200^(H8802) the distress^H7451 that we are in, how Jerusalem^H3389 lieth waste^H2720, and the gates^H8179 thereof are burned^H3341^(H8738) with fire^H784: come^H3212^(H8798), and let us build up^H1129^(H8799) the wall^H2346 of Jerusalem^H3389, that we be no more a reproach^H2781.

¹⁸ I told them about the hand of my God which was good on me, and also about the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

KJVThen I told^H5046^(H8686) them of the hand^H3027 of my God^H430 which was good^H2896 upon me; as also the king's^H4428 words^H1697 that he had spoken^H559^(H8804) unto me. And they said^H559^(H8799), Let us rise up^H6965^(H8799) and build^H1129^(H8804). So they strengthened^H2388^(H8762) their hands^H3027 for this good^H2896 work.

¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?”

KJVBut when Sanballat^H5571 the Horonite^H2772, and Tobiah^H2900 the servant^H5650, the Ammonite^H5984, and Geshem^H1654 the Arabian^H6163, heard^H8085^(H8799) it, they laughed us to scorn^H3932^(H8686), and despised^H959^(H8799) us, and said^H559^(H8799), What is this thing^H1697 that ye do^H6213^(H8802)? will ye rebel^H4775^(H8802) against the king^H4428?

²⁰ Then I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”

KJVThen answered^H7725^(H8686)^H1697 I them, and said^H559^(H8799) unto them, The God^H430 of heaven^H8064, he will prosper^H6743^(H8686) us; therefore we his servants^H5650 will arise^H6965^(H8799) and build^H1129^(H8804): but ye have no portion^H2506, nor right^H6666, nor memorial^H2146, in Jerusalem^H3389.

WEB·Nehemiah 1

¹The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,

KJVThe words^H1697 of Nehemiah^H5166 the son^H1121 of Hachaliah^H2446. And it came to pass in the month^H2320 Chisleu^H3691, in the twentieth^H6242 year^H8141, as I was in Shushan^H7800 the palace^H1002,

² Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

KJVThat Hanani^H2607, one^H259 of my brethren^H251, came^H935^(H8799), he and certain men^H582 of Judah^H3063; and I asked^H7592^(H8799) them concerning the Jews^H3064 that had escaped^H6413, which were left^H7604^(H8738) of the captivity^H7628, and concerning Jerusalem^H3389.

³ They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

KJVAnd they said^H559^(H8799) unto me, The remnant^H7604^(H8737) that are left^H7604^(H8738) of the captivity^H7628 there in the province^H4082 are in great^H1419 affliction^H7451 and reproach^H2781: the wall^H2346 of Jerusalem^H3389 also is broken down^H6555^(H8794), and the gates^H8179 thereof are burned^H3341^(H8738) with fire^H784.

⁴ When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,

KJVAnd it came to pass, when I heard^H8085^(H8800) these words^H1697, that I sat down^H3427^(H8804) and wept^H1058^(H8799), and mourned^H56^(H8691) certain days^H3117, and fasted^H6684^(H8802), and prayed^H6419^(H8693) before^H6440 the God^H430 of heaven^H8064,

⁵ and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,

KJVAnd said^H559^(H8799), I beseech^H577 thee, O LORD^H3068 God^H430 of heaven^H8064, the great^H1419 and terrible^H3372^(H8737) God^H410, that keepeth^H8104^(H8802) covenant^H1285 and mercy^H2617 for them that love^H157^(H8802) him and observe^H8104^(H8802) his commandments^H4687:

⁶ let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.

KJVLet thine ear^H241 now be attentive^H7183, and thine eyes^H5869 open^H6605^(H8803), that thou mayest hear^H8085^(H8800) the prayer^H8605 of thy servant^H5650, which I pray^H6419^(H8693) before^H6440 thee now^H3117, day^H3119 and night^H3915, for the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 thy servants^H5650, and confess^H3034^(H8693) the sins^H2403 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478, which we have sinned^H2398^(H8804) against thee: both I and my father's^H1 house^H1004 have sinned^H2398^(H8804).

⁷ We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.

KJVWe have dealt very^H2254^(H8800) corruptly^H2254^(H8804) against thee, and have not kept^H8104^(H8804) the commandments^H4687, nor the statutes^H2706, nor the judgments^H4941, which thou commandedst^H6680^(H8765) thy servant^H5650 Moses^H4872.

⁸ “Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you among the peoples;

KJVRemember^H2142^(H8798), I beseech thee, the word^H1697 that thou commandedst^H6680^(H8765) thy servant^H5650 Moses^H4872, saying^H559^(H8800), If ye transgress^H4603^(H8799), I will scatter you abroad^H6327^(H8686) among the nations^H5971:

⁹ but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’

KJVBut if ye turn^H7725^(H8804) unto me, and keep^H8104^(H8804) my commandments^H4687, and do^H6213^(H8804) them; though there were of you cast out^H5080^(H8737) unto the uttermost part^H7097 of the heaven^H8064, yet will I gather^H6908^(H8762) them from thence, and will bring^H935^(H8689) them unto the place^H4725 that I have chosen^H977^(H8804) to set^H7931^(H8763) my name^H8034 there.

¹⁰ “Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

KJVNow these are thy servants^H5650 and thy people^H5971, whom thou hast redeemed^H6299^(H8804) by thy great^H1419 power^H3581, and by thy strong^H2389 hand^H3027.

¹¹ Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.

KJVO Lord^H136, I beseech^H577 thee, let now thine ear^H241 be attentive^H7183 to the prayer^H8605 of thy servant^H5650, and to the prayer^H8605 of thy servants^H5650, who desire^H2655 to fear^H3372^(H8800) thy name^H8034: and prosper^H6743^(H8685), I pray thee, thy servant^H5650 this day^H3117, and grant^H5414^(H8798) him mercy^H7356 in the sight^H6440 of this man^H376. For I was the king's^H4428 cupbearer^H8248^(H8688).

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Nehemiah.