Nehemiah Chapter 9 נְחֶמְיָה

א  וּבְיוֹם עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה, נֶאֶסְפוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצוֹם וּבְשַׂקִּים, וַאֲדָמָה, עֲלֵיהֶם. 1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.
ב  וַיִּבָּדְלוּ זֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִכֹּל בְּנֵי נֵכָר; וַיַּעַמְדוּ, וַיִּתְוַדּוּ עַל-חַטֹּאתֵיהֶם, וַעֲוֺנוֹת, אֲבֹתֵיהֶם. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
ג  וַיָּקוּמוּ, עַל-עָמְדָם, וַיִּקְרְאוּ בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרַת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, רְבִעִית הַיּוֹם; וּרְבִעִית מִתְוַדִּים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם.  {פ} 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the Law of the LORD their God a fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and prostrated themselves before the LORD their God. {P}
ד  וַיָּקָם עַל-מַעֲלֵה הַלְוִיִּם, יֵשׁוּעַ וּבָנִי קַדְמִיאֵל שְׁבַנְיָה בֻּנִּי שֵׁרֵבְיָה--בָּנִי כְנָנִי; וַיִּזְעֲקוּ בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל, אֶל-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם. 4 Then stood up upon the platform of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.
ה  וַיֹּאמְרוּ הַלְוִיִּם יֵשׁוּעַ וְקַדְמִיאֵל בָּנִי חֲשַׁבְנְיָה שֵׁרֵבְיָה הוֹדִיָּה, שְׁבַנְיָה פְתַחְיָה, קוּמוּ בָּרְכוּ אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, מִן-הָעוֹלָם עַד-הָעוֹלָם; וִיבָרְכוּ שֵׁם כְּבֹדֶךָ, וּמְרוֹמַם עַל-כָּל-בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: 'Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting; and let them say: Blessed be Thy glorious Name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise.
ו  אַתָּה-הוּא יְהוָה, לְבַדֶּךָ--את אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְכָל-צְבָאָם הָאָרֶץ וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיהָ הַיַּמִּים וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, וְאַתָּה מְחַיֶּה אֶת-כֻּלָּם; וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם, לְךָ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים. 6 Thou art the LORD, even Thou alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth Thee.
ז  אַתָּה-הוּא, יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ בְּאַבְרָם, וְהוֹצֵאתוֹ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים; וְשַׂמְתָּ שְּׁמוֹ, אַבְרָהָם. 7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;
ח  וּמָצָאתָ אֶת-לְבָבוֹ, נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶיךָ, וְכָרוֹת עִמּוֹ הַבְּרִית לָתֵת אֶת-אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי הַחִתִּי הָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁי, לָתֵת לְזַרְעוֹ; וַתָּקֶם, אֶת-דְּבָרֶיךָ, כִּי צַדִּיק, אָתָּה. 8 and foundest his heart faithful before Thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, even to give it unto his seed, and hast performed Thy words; for Thou art righteous;
ט  וַתֵּרֶא אֶת-עֳנִי אֲבֹתֵינוּ, בְּמִצְרָיִם; וְאֶת-זַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַעְתָּ, עַל-יַם-סוּף. 9 And Thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea;
י  וַתִּתֵּן אֹתֹת וּמֹפְתִים בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכָל-עֲבָדָיו, וּבְכָל-עַם אַרְצוֹ--כִּי יָדַעְתָּ, כִּי הֵזִידוּ עֲלֵיהֶם; וַתַּעַשׂ-לְךָ שֵׁם, כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. 10 and didst show signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for Thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them; and didst get Thee a name, as it is this day.
יא  וְהַיָּם בָּקַעְתָּ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וַיַּעַבְרוּ בְתוֹךְ-הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה; וְאֶת-רֹדְפֵיהֶם הִשְׁלַכְתָּ בִמְצוֹלֹת, כְּמוֹ-אֶבֶן--בְּמַיִם עַזִּים. 11 And Thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers Thou didst cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
יב  וּבְעַמּוּד עָנָן, הִנְחִיתָם יוֹמָם; וּבְעַמּוּד אֵשׁ, לַיְלָה, לְהָאִיר לָהֶם, אֶת-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ-בָהּ. 12 Moreover in a pillar of cloud Thou didst lead them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
יג  וְעַל הַר-סִינַי יָרַדְתָּ, וְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם מִשָּׁמָיִם; וַתִּתֵּן לָהֶם מִשְׁפָּטִים יְשָׁרִים, וְתוֹרוֹת אֱמֶת--חֻקִּים וּמִצְוֺת, טוֹבִים. 13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spokest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and laws of truth, good statutes and commandments;
יד  וְאֶת-שַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ, הוֹדַעְתָּ לָהֶם; וּמִצְווֹת וְחֻקִּים, וְתוֹרָה, צִוִּיתָ לָהֶם, בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ. 14 and madest known unto them Thy holy sabbath, and didst command them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by the hand of Moses Thy servant;
טו  וְלֶחֶם מִשָּׁמַיִם נָתַתָּה לָהֶם, לִרְעָבָם, וּמַיִם מִסֶּלַע הוֹצֵאתָ לָהֶם, לִצְמָאָם; וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם, לָבוֹא לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-נָשָׂאתָ אֶת-יָדְךָ, לָתֵת לָהֶם. 15 and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and didst command them that they should go in to possess the land which Thou hadst lifted up Thy hand to give them.
טז  וְהֵם וַאֲבֹתֵינוּ, הֵזִידוּ; וַיַּקְשׁוּ, אֶת-עָרְפָּם, וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ, אֶל-מִצְוֺתֶיךָ. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to Thy commandments,
יז  וַיְמָאֲנוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ, וְלֹא-זָכְרוּ נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ עִמָּהֶם, וַיַּקְשׁוּ אֶת-עָרְפָּם, וַיִּתְּנוּ-רֹאשׁ לָשׁוּב לְעַבְדֻתָם בְּמִרְיָם; וְאַתָּה אֱלוֹהַּ סְלִיחוֹת חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם, אֶרֶךְ-אַפַּיִם וְרַב-וחסד חֶסֶד--וְלֹא עֲזַבְתָּם. 17 and refused to hearken, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage; but Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, and forsookest them not.
יח  אַף, כִּי-עָשׂוּ לָהֶם עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, זֶה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הֶעֶלְךָ מִמִּצְרָיִם; וַיַּעֲשׂוּ, נֶאָצוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת. 18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said: 'This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
יט  וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, לֹא עֲזַבְתָּם בַּמִּדְבָּר; אֶת-עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן לֹא-סָר מֵעֲלֵיהֶם בְּיוֹמָם, לְהַנְחֹתָם בְּהַדֶּרֶךְ, וְאֶת-עַמּוּד הָאֵשׁ בְּלַיְלָה לְהָאִיר לָהֶם, וְאֶת-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ-בָהּ. 19 yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.
כ  וְרוּחֲךָ, הַטּוֹבָה, נָתַתָּ, לְהַשְׂכִּילָם; וּמַנְךָ לֹא-מָנַעְתָּ מִפִּיהֶם, וּמַיִם נָתַתָּה לָהֶם לִצְמָאָם. 20 Thou gavest also Thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not Thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
כא  וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה כִּלְכַּלְתָּם בַּמִּדְבָּר, לֹא חָסֵרוּ; שַׂלְמֹתֵיהֶם לֹא בָלוּ, וְרַגְלֵיהֶם לֹא בָצֵקוּ. 21 Yea, forty years didst Thou sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
כב  וַתִּתֵּן לָהֶם מַמְלָכוֹת וַעֲמָמִים, וַתַּחְלְקֵם לְפֵאָה; וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת-אֶרֶץ סִיחוֹן, וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ מֶלֶךְ חֶשְׁבּוֹן, וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ, עוֹג מֶלֶךְ-הַבָּשָׁן. 22 Moreover Thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which Thou didst allot quarter by quarter; so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
כג  וּבְנֵיהֶם הִרְבִּיתָ, כְּכֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם; וַתְּבִיאֵם, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-אָמַרְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵיהֶם, לָבוֹא לָרָשֶׁת. 23 Their children also didst Thou multiply as the stars of heaven, and didst bring them into the land, concerning which Thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
כד  וַיָּבֹאוּ הַבָּנִים, וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, וַתַּכְנַע לִפְנֵיהֶם אֶת-יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִים, וַתִּתְּנֵם בְּיָדָם; וְאֶת-מַלְכֵיהֶם וְאֶת-עַמְמֵי הָאָרֶץ, לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּהֶם כִּרְצוֹנָם. 24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and Thou didst subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
כה  וַיִּלְכְּדוּ עָרִים בְּצוּרֹת, וַאֲדָמָה שְׁמֵנָה, וַיִּירְשׁוּ בָּתִּים מְלֵאִים-כָּל-טוּב בֹּרוֹת חֲצוּבִים כְּרָמִים וְזֵיתִים וְעֵץ מַאֲכָל, לָרֹב; וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׂבְּעוּ וַיַּשְׁמִינוּ, וַיִּתְעַדְּנוּ בְּטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל. 25 And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance; so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and luxuriated in Thy great goodness.
כו  וַיַּמְרוּ וַיִּמְרְדוּ בָּךְ, וַיַּשְׁלִכוּ אֶת-תּוֹרָתְךָ אַחֲרֵי גַוָּם, וְאֶת-נְבִיאֶיךָ הָרָגוּ, אֲשֶׁר-הֵעִידוּ בָם לַהֲשִׁיבָם אֵלֶיךָ; וַיַּעֲשׂוּ, נֶאָצוֹת גְּדוֹלֹת. 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against Thee, and cast Thy law behind their back, and slew Thy prophets that did forewarn them to turn them back unto Thee, and they wrought great provocations.
כז  וַתִּתְּנֵם בְּיַד צָרֵיהֶם, וַיָּצֵרוּ לָהֶם; וּבְעֵת צָרָתָם, יִצְעֲקוּ אֵלֶיךָ, וְאַתָּה מִשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁמָע, וּכְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תִּתֵּן לָהֶם מוֹשִׁיעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעוּם מִיַּד צָרֵיהֶם. 27 Therefore Thou didst deliver them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them; and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto Thee, Thou heardest from heaven; and according to Thy manifold mercies Thou gavest them saviours who might save them out of the hand of their adversaries.
כח  וּכְנוֹחַ לָהֶם--יָשׁוּבוּ, לַעֲשׂוֹת רַע לְפָנֶיךָ; וַתַּעַזְבֵם בְּיַד אֹיְבֵיהֶם, וַיִּרְדּוּ בָהֶם, וַיָּשׁוּבוּ וַיִּזְעָקוּךָ, וְאַתָּה מִשָּׁמַיִם תִּשְׁמַע וְתַצִּילֵם כְּרַחֲמֶיךָ רַבּוֹת עִתִּים. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before Thee; therefore didst Thou leave them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and cried unto Thee, many times didst Thou hear from heaven, and deliver them according to Thy mercies;
כט  וַתָּעַד בָּהֶם לַהֲשִׁיבָם אֶל-תּוֹרָתֶךָ, וְהֵמָּה הֵזִידוּ וְלֹא-שָׁמְעוּ לְמִצְוֺתֶיךָ וּבְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חָטְאוּ-בָם, אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם, וְחָיָה בָהֶם; וַיִּתְּנוּ כָתֵף סוֹרֶרֶת, וְעָרְפָּם הִקְשׁוּ וְלֹא שָׁמֵעוּ. 29 and didst forewarn them, that Thou mightest bring them back unto Thy law; yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto Thy commandments, but sinned against Thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them, and presented a stubborn shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
ל  וַתִּמְשֹׁךְ עֲלֵיהֶם שָׁנִים רַבּוֹת, וַתָּעַד בָּם בְּרוּחֲךָ בְּיַד-נְבִיאֶיךָ וְלֹא הֶאֱזִינוּ; וַתִּתְּנֵם, בְּיַד עַמֵּי הָאֲרָצֹת. 30 Yet many years didst Thou extend mercy unto them, and didst forewarn them by Thy spirit through Thy prophets; yet would they not give ear; therefore gavest Thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
לא  וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים לֹא-עֲשִׂיתָם כָּלָה, וְלֹא עֲזַבְתָּם:  כִּי אֵל-חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם, אָתָּה. 31 Nevertheless in Thy manifold mercies Thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for Thou art a gracious and merciful God.
לב  וְעַתָּה אֱלֹהֵינוּ הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא, שׁוֹמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד--אַל-יִמְעַט לְפָנֶיךָ אֵת כָּל-הַתְּלָאָה אֲשֶׁר-מְצָאַתְנוּ לִמְלָכֵינוּ לְשָׂרֵינוּ וּלְכֹהֲנֵינוּ וְלִנְבִיאֵינוּ וְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ, וּלְכָל-עַמֶּךָ:  מִימֵי מַלְכֵי אַשּׁוּר, עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awful God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the travail seem little before Thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all Thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
לג  וְאַתָּה צַדִּיק, עַל כָּל-הַבָּא עָלֵינוּ:  כִּי-אֱמֶת עָשִׂיתָ, וַאֲנַחְנוּ הִרְשָׁעְנוּ. 33 Howbeit Thou art just in all that is come upon us; for Thou hast dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;
לד  וְאֶת-מְלָכֵינוּ שָׂרֵינוּ כֹּהֲנֵינוּ וַאֲבֹתֵינוּ, לֹא עָשׂוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ; וְלֹא הִקְשִׁיבוּ, אֶל-מִצְוֺתֶיךָ, וּלְעֵדְוֺתֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר הַעִידֹתָ בָּהֶם. 34 neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept Thy law, nor hearkened unto Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, wherewith Thou didst testify against them.
לה  וְהֵם בְּמַלְכוּתָם וּבְטוּבְךָ הָרָב אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתָּ לָהֶם, וּבְאֶרֶץ הָרְחָבָה וְהַשְּׁמֵנָה אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתָּ לִפְנֵיהֶם--לֹא עֲבָדוּךָ; וְלֹא-שָׁבוּ, מִמַּעַלְלֵיהֶם הָרָעִים. 35 For they have not served Thee in their kingdom, and in Thy great goodness that Thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which Thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
לו  הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ הַיּוֹם, עֲבָדִים; וְהָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתָּה לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ, לֶאֱכֹל אֶת-פִּרְיָהּ וְאֶת-טוּבָהּ--הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ עֲבָדִים, עָלֶיהָ. 36 Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that Thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it.
לז  וּתְבוּאָתָהּ מַרְבָּה, לַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתָּה עָלֵינוּ--בְּחַטֹּאותֵינוּ; וְעַל גְּוִיֹּתֵנוּ מֹשְׁלִים וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּנוּ, כִּרְצוֹנָם, וּבְצָרָה גְדֹלָה, אֲנָחְנוּ.  {פ} 37 And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom Thou hast set over us because of our sins; also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.' {P}