וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּ heard šāmaʿ צָרֵ֥י Now when the adversaries ṣar יְהוּדָ֖ה of Judah yĕhûdâ וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן and Benjamin binyāmîn כִּֽי that kî בְנֵ֤י the children bēn הַגּוֹלָה֙ of the captivity gôlâ בּוֹנִ֣ים builded bānâ הֵיכָ֔ל the temple hêkāl לַֽיהוָ֖ה unto the Lord yĕhōwâ אֱלֹהֵ֥י God ʾĕlōhîm יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ of Israel; yiśrāʾēl

וַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ Then they came nāgaš אֶל to ʾēl זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל Zerubbabel, zĕrubbābel וְאֶל and to ʾēl רָאשֵׁ֣י the chief rōš הָֽאָב֗וֹת of the fathers, ʾāb וַיֹּֽאמְר֤וּ and said ʾāmar לָהֶם֙ hēm נִבְנֶ֣ה unto them, Let us build bānâ עִמָּכֶ֔ם with ʿim כִּ֣י you: for kî כָכֶ֔ם נִדְר֖וֹשׁ we seek dāraš לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם your God, ʾĕlōhîm וְל֣אֹ׀ lōʾ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ as ye and we ʾănaḥnû זֹֽבְחִ֗ים do sacrifice zābaḥ מִימֵי֙ unto him since the days yôm אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ of Esar-haddon ʾēsar ḥaddôn מֶ֣לֶךְ king melek אַשּׁ֔וּר of Assur, ʾaššûr הַמַּֽעֲלֶ֥ה which brought ʿālâ אֹתָ֖נוּ us ʾēt פֹּֽה׃ up hither. pō

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ said ʾāmar לָהֶ֨ם זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל But Zerubbabel, zĕrubbābel וְיֵשׁ֗וּעַ and Jeshua, yēšûaʿ וּשְׁאָ֨ר and the rest šĕʾār רָאשֵׁ֤י of the chief rōš הָֽאָבוֹת֙ of the fathers ʾāb לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel, yiśrāʾēl לֹֽא unto them, Ye have nothing lōʾ לָ֣כֶם וָלָ֔נוּ לִבְנ֥וֹת to do with us to build bānâ בַּ֖יִת an house bayit לֵֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ unto our God; ʾĕlōhîm כִּי֩ but kî אֲנַ֨חְנוּ we ourselves ʾănaḥnû יַ֜חַד together yaḥad נִבְנֶ֗ה will build bānâ לַֽיהוָה֙ unto the Lord yĕhōwâ אֱלֹהֵ֣י God ʾĕlōhîm יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel, yiśrāʾēl כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר as ʾăšer צִוָּ֔נוּ hath commanded us. ṣāwâ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ king melek כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ Cyrus kôreš מֶֽלֶךְ the king melek פָּרָֽס׃ of Persia pāras

וַֽיְהִי֙ hāyâ עַם Then the people ʿam הָאָ֔רֶץ of the land ʾereṣ מְרַפִּ֖ים weakened rāpâ יְדֵ֣י the hands yād עַם of the people ʿam יְהוּדָ֑ה of Judah, yĕhûdâ וּֽמְבַלֲהִ֥ים and troubled bālah אוֹתָ֖ם ʾēt לִבְנֽוֹת׃ them in building, bānâ

וְסֹֽכְרִ֧ים And hired śākar עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם against ʿal יֽוֹעֲצִ֖ים counsellers yāʿaṣ לְהָפֵ֣ר them, to frustrate pārar עֲצָתָ֑ם their purpose, ʿēṣâ כָּל all kōl יְמֵ֗י the days yôm כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ of Cyrus kôreš מֶ֣לֶךְ king melek פָּרַ֔ס of Persia, pāras וְעַד even until ʿad מַלְכ֖וּת the reign malkût דָּֽרְיָ֥וֶשׁ of Darius dārĕyāwēš מֶֽלֶךְ king melek פָּרָֽס׃ of Persia. pāras

וּבְמַלְכוּת֙ And in the reign malkût אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ of Ahasuerus, ʾăḥašwērôš בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת in the beginning tĕḥillâ מַלְכוּת֑וֹ of his reign, malkût כָּֽתְב֣וּ wrote kātab שִׂטְנָ֔ה they an accusation śiṭnâ עַל against ʿal יֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י the inhabitants yāšab יְהוּדָ֖ה of Judah yĕhûdâ וִירֽוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ and Jerusalem. yĕrûšālaim

וּבִימֵ֣י And in the days yôm אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֗שְׂתָּא of Artaxerxes ʾartaḥšaštāʾ כָּתַ֨ב wrote kātab בִּשְׁלָ֜ם Bishlam, bišlām מִתְרְדָ֤ת Mithredath, mitrĕdāt טָֽבְאֵל֙ Tabeel, ṭobʾēl וּשְׁאָ֣ר and the rest šĕʾār כְּנָוֺתָ֔ו of their companions, kĕnāt עַל unto ʿal אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא Artaxerxes ʾartaḥšaštāʾ מֶ֣לֶךְ king melek פָּרָ֑ס of Persia; pāras וּכְתָב֙ and the writing kātāb הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן of the letter ništĕwān כָּת֥וּב written kātab אֲרָמִ֖ית in the Syrian tongue, ʾărāmît וּמְתֻרְגָּ֥ם and interpreted tirgam אֲרָמִֽית׃ in the Syrian tongue. ʾărāmît

רְח֣וּם Rehum rĕḥûm בְּעֵל the chancellor bĕʿēl טְעֵ֗ם ṭĕʿēm וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ and Shimshai šimšay סָֽפְרָ֔א the scribe sāpēr כְּתַ֛בוּ wrote kĕtab אִגְּרָ֥ה letter ʾiggĕrāʾ חֲדָ֖ה a ḥad עַל against ʿal יְרֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם Jerusalem yĕrûšālēm לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא to Artaxerxes ʾartaḥšaštāʾ מַלְכָּ֖א the king melek כְּנֵֽמָא׃ in this sort: kĕnēmāʾ

אֱדַ֜יִן Then ʾĕdayin רְח֣וּם Rehum rĕḥûm בְּעֵל the chancellor, bĕʿēl טְעֵ֗ם ṭĕʿēm וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ and Shimshai šimšay סָֽפְרָ֔א the scribe, sāpēr וּשְׁאָ֖ר and the rest šĕʾār כְּנָוָֽתְה֑וֹן of their companions; kĕnāt דִּֽ֠ינָיֵא the Dinaites, dînay וַֽאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵ֞א the Apharsathchites, ʾăparsĕkay טַרְפְּלָיֵ֣א the Tarpelites, ṭarpĕlay אֲפָֽרְסָיֵ֗א the Apharsites, ʾăporsay אַרְכְּוָיֵ֤ the Archevites, ʾarkĕway בָֽבְלָיֵא֙ the Babylonians, bablî שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔א the Susanchites, šûšankî דֶּהָוֵ֖א the Dehavites, dahăwāʾ עֵֽלְמָיֵֽא׃ the Elamites, ʿalmî

וּשְׁאָ֣ר And the rest šĕʾār אֻמַּיָּ֗א of the nations ʾummâ דִּ֤י whom dî הַגְלִי֙ brought over, gĕlâ אָֽסְנַפַּר֙ Asnappar ʾosnappar רַבָּ֣א the great rab וְיַקִּירָ֔א and noble yaqqîr וְהוֹתֵ֣ב and set yĕtib הִמּ֔וֹ himmô בְּקִרְיָ֖ה in the cities qiryāʾ דִּ֣י of dî שָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן Samaria, šomrayin וּשְׁאָ֥ר and the rest šĕʾār עֲבַֽר on this side ʿăbar נַהֲרָ֖ה the river, nĕhar וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ and at such a time. kĕʿenet

דְּנָה֙ This dēn פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן the copy paršegen אִגַּרְתָּ֔א of the letter ʾiggĕrāʾ דִּ֚י that dî שְׁלַ֣חוּ they sent šĕlaḥ עֲל֔וֹהִי unto him, ʿal עַל unto ʿal אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֖שְׂתְּא Artaxerxes ʾartaḥšaštāʾ מַלְכָּ֑א the king; melek עַבְדֶ֛יךְ Thy servants ʿăbad אֱנָ֥שׁ the men ʾĕnoš עֲבַֽר on this side ʿăbar נַהֲרָ֖ה the river, nĕhar וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ and at such a time. kĕʿenet

יְדִ֙יעַ֙ known yĕdaʿ לֶֽהֱוֵ֣א Be it hāwāʾ לְמַלְכָּ֔א unto the king, melek דִּ֣י which dî יְהֽוּדָיֵ֗א that the Jews yĕhûdāʾî דִּ֤י dî סְלִ֙קוּ֙ came up sĕliq מִן from min לְוָתָ֔ךְ thee lĕwāt עֲלֶ֥ינָא to us ʿal אֲת֖וֹ are come ʾātâ לִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם unto Jerusalem, yĕrûšālēm קִרְיְתָ֨א city, qiryāʾ מָֽרָדְתָּ֤א the rebellious mārād וּבִֽאישְׁתָּא֙ and the bad biʾûš בָּנַ֔יִן building bĕnāʾ וְשׁוּרַיָּ֣א the walls šûr אשַׁכְלִ֔לוּ and have set up kĕlal וְאֻשַּׁיָּ֖א the foundations. ʾōš יַחִֽיטוּ׃ and joined ḥûṭ

כְּעַ֗ן now kĕʿan יְדִ֙יעַ֙ it known yĕdaʿ לֶֽהֱוֵ֣א Be hāwāʾ לְמַלְכָּ֔א unto the king, melek דִּ֠י that, dî הֵ֣ן if hēn קִרְיְתָ֥א city qiryāʾ דָךְ֙ this dēk תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א be builded, bĕnāʾ וְשׁוּרַיָּ֖ה and the walls šûr יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן set up kĕlal מִנְדָּֽה toll, middâ בְל֤וֹ tribute, bĕlô וַֽהֲלָךְ֙ and custom, hălok לָ֣א will they not lāʾ יִנְתְּנ֔וּן pay nĕtan וְאַפְּתֹ֥ם the revenue ʾappĕtōm מַלְכִ֖ים of the kings. melek תְּהַנְזִֽק׃ and thou shalt endamage nĕzaq

כְּעַ֗ן Now kĕʿan כָּל kōl קֳבֵל֙ because qĕbēl דִּֽי we have dî מְלַ֤ח mĕlaḥ הֵֽיכְלָא֙ from palace, hêkal מְלַ֔חְנָא maintenance mĕlaḥ וְעַרְוַ֣ת dishonour, ʿarwâ מַלְכָּ֔א the king's melek לָ֥א and it was not lāʾ אֲֽרִֽיךְ meet ʾărak לַ֖נָא לְמֶֽחֱזֵ֑א for us to see ḥăzāʾ עַ֨ל therefore ʿal דְּנָ֔ה dēn שְׁלַ֖חְנָא have we sent šĕlaḥ וְהוֹדַ֥עְנָא and certified yĕdaʿ לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ the king; melek

דִּ֡י That dî יְבַקַּר֩ search bĕqar בִּֽסְפַר may be made in the book sĕpar דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜א of the records dikrôn דִּ֣י of dî אֲבָֽהָתָ֗ךְ thy fathers: ʾab וּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּח so shalt thou find šĕkaḥ בִּסְפַ֣ר in the book sĕpar דָּכְרָֽנַיָּא֮ of the records, dikrôn וְתִנְדַּע֒ and know yĕdaʿ דִּי֩ that dî קִרְיְתָ֨א city qiryāʾ דָ֜ךְ this dēk קִרְיָ֣א city, qiryāʾ מָֽרָדָ֗א a rebellious mārād וּֽמְהַנְזְקַ֤ת and hurtful nĕzaq מַלְכִין֙ unto kings melek וּמְדִנָ֔ן and provinces, mĕdînâ וְאֶשְׁתַּדּוּר֙ sedition ʾeštaddûr עָֽבְדִ֣ין and that they have moved ʿăbad בְּגַוַּ֔הּ within the same gǎw מִן of min יוֹמָ֖ת time: yôm עָֽלְמָ֑א old ʿālam עַ֨ל for ʿal דְּנָ֔ה which cause dēn קִרְיְתָ֥א city qiryāʾ דָ֖ךְ was this dēk הָֽחָרְבַֽת׃ destroyed. ḥărab

מְהֽוֹדְעִ֤ין certify yĕdaʿ אֲנַ֙חְנָה֙ We ʾănaḥnāʾ לְמַלְכָּ֔א the king melek דִּ֠י that, dî הֵ֣ן if hēn קִרְיְתָ֥א city qiryāʾ דָךְ֙ this dēk תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א be builded bĕnāʾ וְשֽׁוּרַיָּ֖ה and the walls šûr יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן thereof set up, kĕlal לָֽקֳבֵ֣ל means qĕbēl דְּנָ֔ה by this dēn חֲלָק֙ portion ḥălāq בַּֽעֲבַ֣ר on this side ʿăbar נַֽהֲרָ֔א the river. nĕhar לָ֥א no lāʾ אִיתַ֖י thou shalt have ʾîtay לָֽךְ׃

פִּתְגָמָ֞א an answer pitgām שְׁלַ֣ח sent šĕlaḥ מַלְכָּ֗א the king melek עַל unto ʿal רְח֤וּם Rehum rĕḥûm בְּעֵל the chancellor, bĕʿēl טְעֵם֙ ṭĕʿēm וְשִׁמְשַׁ֣י and Shimshai šimšay סָֽפְרָ֔א the scribe, sāpēr וּשְׁאָר֙ and the rest šĕʾār כְּנָוָ֣תְה֔וֹן of their companions kĕnāt דִּ֥י that dî יָֽתְבִ֖ין dwell yĕtib בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן in Samaria, šomrayin וּשְׁאָ֧ר and the rest šĕʾār עֲבַֽר beyond ʿăbar נַהֲרָ֛ה the river, nĕhar שְׁלָ֖ם Peace, šĕlām וּכְעֶֽת׃ and at such a time. kĕʿenet

נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕א The letter ništĕwān דִּ֥י which dî שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן ye sent šĕlaḥ עֲלֶ֑ינָא unto us ʿal מְפָרַ֥שׁ hath been plainly pĕraš קֱרִ֖י read qĕrāʾ קָֽדָמָֽי׃ before me. qŏdām

וּמִנִּי֮ And I min שִׂ֣ים commanded, śûm טְעֵם֒ ṭĕʿēm וּבַקַּ֣רוּ and search bĕqar וְהַשְׁכַּ֔חוּ hath been made, and it is found šĕkaḥ דִּ֚י that dî קִרְיְתָ֣א city qiryāʾ דָ֔ךְ this dēk מִן of min יוֹמָת֙ time yôm עָֽלְמָ֔א old ʿālam עַל against ʿal מַלְכִ֖ין kings, melek מִֽתְנַשְּׂאָ֑ה hath made insurrection nĕśāʾ וּמְרַ֥ד and rebellion mĕrad וְאֶשְׁתַּדּ֖וּר and sedition ʾeštaddûr מִתְעֲבֶד have been made therein. ʿăbad בַּֽהּ׃

וּמַלְכִ֣ין kings melek תַּקִּיפִ֗ין mighty taqqîp הֲווֹ֙ There have been hāwāʾ עַל also over ʿal יְר֣וּשְׁלֶ֔ם Jerusalem, yĕrûšālēm וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין which have ruled šallîṭ בְּכֹ֖ל over all kōl עֲבַ֣ר beyond ʿăbar נַֽהֲרָ֑ה the river; nĕhar וּמִדָּ֥ה and toll, middâ בְל֛וֹ tribute, bĕlô וַֽהֲלָ֖ךְ and custom, hălok מִתְיְהֵ֥ב was paid unto them. yĕhab לְהֽוֹן׃

כְּעַן֙ ye now kĕʿan שִׂ֣ימוּ Give śûm טְּעֵ֔ם commandment ṭĕʿēm לְבַטָּלָ֖א to cease, bĕṭēl גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א men gĕbar אִלֵּ֑ךְ to cause these ʾillēk וְקִרְיְתָ֥א city qiryāʾ דָךְ֙ and that this dēk לָ֣א be not lāʾ תִתְבְּנֵ֔א builded, bĕnāʾ עַד until ʿad מִנִּ֖י from me. min טַעְמָ֥א commandment ṭaʿam יִתְּשָֽׂם׃ shall be given śûm

וּזְהִירִ֥ין zĕhar הֱו֛וֹ Take heed hāwāʾ שָׁל֖וּ now that ye fail not šālû לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד ʿăbad עַל to do ʿal דְּנָ֑ה this: dēn לְמָה֙ why mâ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א grow śĕgāʾ חֲבָלָ֔א should damage ḥăbal לְהַנְזָקַ֖ת to the hurt nĕzaq מַלְכִֽין׃ of the kings? melek

אֱדַ֗יִן Now ʾĕdayin מִן when min דִּ֞י dî פַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶן the copy paršegen נִשְׁתְּוָנָא֙ letter ništĕwān דִּ֚י dî אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣שְׂתְּא Artaxerxes' ʾartaḥšaštāʾ מַלְכָּ֔א of king melek קֱרִ֧י read qĕrāʾ קֳדָם before qŏdām רְח֛וּם Rehum, rĕḥûm וְשִׁמְשַׁ֥י and Shimshai šimšay סָֽפְרָ֖א the scribe, sāpēr וּכְנָוָֽתְה֑וֹן and their companions, kĕnāt אֲזַ֨לוּ they went up ʾăzal בִבְהִיל֤וּ in haste bĕhîlû לִירֽוּשְׁלֶם֙ to Jerusalem yĕrûšālēm עַל unto ʿal יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א the Jews, yĕhûdāʾî וּבַטִּ֥לוּ to cease bĕṭēl הִמּ֖וֹ and made them himmô בְּאֶדְרָ֥ע by force ʾedrāʿ וְחָֽיִל׃ and power. ḥayil

בֵּאדַ֗יִן Then ʾĕdayin בְּטֵלַת֙ ceased bĕṭēl עֲבִידַ֣ת the work ʿăbîdâ בֵּית of the house bayit אֱלָהָ֔א of God ʾĕlāh דִּ֖י which dî בִּירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם at Jerusalem. yĕrûšālēm וַֽהֲוָת֙ So it ceased hāwāʾ בָּֽטְלָ֔א bĕṭēl עַ֚ד unto ʿad שְׁנַ֣ת year šĕnâ תַּרְתֵּ֔ין the second tĕrên לְמַלְכ֖וּת of the reign malkû דָּֽרְיָ֥וֶשׁ of Darius dārĕyāwēš מֶֽלֶךְ king melek פָּרָֽס׃ of Persia. pāras