< Nehemiah 2 >

1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, when the wine was brought in for him, I picked it up and gave it to the king. I had never before appeared before him looking sad,
И бысть в месяце Нисане лета двадесятаго Артаксеркса царя, и вино бе предо мною: и взях вино и дах царю, и не бе ин пред ним.
2 so the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad, even though you don't seem to sick? You must be really upset.” I was absolutely terrified,
И рече ми царь: чесо ради лице твое прискорбно есть, а неси болезнуяй? И несть сие, разве скорбь сердца. И убояхся зело
3 but I replied to the king, “Long live the king live! How can I help being sad? The city where my forefathers are buried is in ruins, and its gates have been burned down.”
и рекох царю: царю, во веки живи: како не быти прискорбну лицу моему, понеже град, дом гробов отец моих опусте, и врата его сожжена суть огнем.
4 “So what do you want?” the king asked me. I prayed to the God of heaven, and answered the king,
И рече ми царь: почто о сем ты вопрошаеши? И помолихся Господу Богу небесному
5 “If it pleases Your Majesty, and if you are happy with me, I request you send me to Judah, to the city where my forefathers are buried, so I can rebuild it.”
и рекох ко царю: аще царю видится благо, и аще угоден будет раб твой пред тобою, да послеши мене во Иудею, во град гробов отец моих, и возсозижду его.
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you come back?” The king agreed to send me, and I told him how long I would be gone.
Рече же ми царь, и наложница седяше близ его: до коего времене будет путь твой, и когда возвратишися? И угодно бысть пред лицем царевым, и посла мя, и положих ему время.
7 I also asked him, “If it pleases Your Majesty, let letters be provided to give to the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will allow me to pass safely until I reach Judah.
И рекох царю: аще царю видится благо, даждь мне послание ко воеводам стран за рекою, да преведут мене, дондеже прииду во Иудею,
8 May I also have a letter for Asaph, warden of the king's forest, so he can give me timber to make beams for the gates of Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for the house I will live in.” Because my gracious God was upon me, the king gave me what I asked.
и послание ко Асафу стражу дубравы царевы, да даст ми древа покрыти врата столпа дому, и на стены градныхя, и на дом, в оньже вниду. И даде ми царь, якоже рука Божия благая (бе) со мною.
9 Then I went to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king also sent a military escort of cavalry with me.
И приидох ко воеводам стран за рекою и дах им послание царево: посла же царь со мною началники силы и конницы.
10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were upset. For them this was a total disaster—that someone had arrived to help out the Israelites.
И услыша Санаваллат Аронитин и Товиа раб Аммонитин, и зло има бысть, яко прииде человек взыскати блага сыновом Израилевым.
11 I arrived in Jerusalem and rested for three days.
И приидох во Иерусалим и бых ту три дни.
12 Then I got up during the night and went out with just a few men. I didn't explain to anyone what my God had put in my head to do for Jerusalem. I only took one horse to ride.
И востах нощию аз и мужие не мнози со мною, и ни комуже возвестих, что Бог дает в сердце мое сотворити со Израилем, и скота не бе со мною, токмо скот, на немже аз седях.
13 So I rode in the dark through the Valley Gate toward the Spring of the Serpent and the Refuse Gate, and I inspected Jerusalem's walls that had been knocked over and the gates that had been burned down.
И внидох во врата Юдоли нощию, ко устию источника Смоковничнаго и ко вратом Гнойным, и бых размышляя о стене Иерусалимстей разореней и о вратах его пояденых огнем.
14 Then I continued on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but we couldn't get through as there wasn't enough room to pass.
И приидох ко вратом Источника и ко купели цареве, и не бысть места скоту, на немже седях, да пройдет.
15 So I went up along the valley in the dark and inspected the wall. Then I returned, going back through the Valley Gate.
И взыдох на стену потока нощию, и размышлях о стене, и бех во вратех Юдоли, и возвратихся.
16 Those in charge of the city had no idea where I had gone or what I was doing, because I hadn't yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, or officials or any others about the construction plans.
Стрегущии же не ведяху, камо ходих и что аз творю, и Иудеом и священником, и честным и воеводам и прочым творящым дела даже до тогда не сказах.
17 Then I said to them, “Look at the trouble we're in! Jerusalem is a heap of rubble, and its gates have been burned down. Come on, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we won't be so ashamed any more.”
И рекох им: вы видите озлобление сие, в немже есмы, како Иерусалим опустошен, и врата его предана огню: приидите, и созиждем стены Иерусалима, и не будем ктому в поношение.
18 Then I explained to them how good God had been to me, and what the king had told me. “Let's get on with the rebuilding,” they replied, and they set to work enthusiastically.
И сказах им руку Божию, яже есть блага со мною, и словеса царева, яже глагола мне, и рекох: востанем и созиждем. И укрепишася руцы их во благое.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab got to hear about it, they mocked and taunted us, asking, “What are you up to? Are you rebelling against the king?”
И услыша Санаваллат Аронитин и Товиа раб Аммонитин и Гисам Аравитин, и посмеяшася нам, и приидоша к нам, и уничижиша, и рекоша: что дело сие, еже вы творите? Еда вы противу царя отметаетеся?
20 But I replied, telling them, “The God of heaven, he will make sure we're successful. We, his servants, will begin rebuilding, but Jerusalem doesn't belong to you, and you have no authority over it or claim to it.”
И воздах им слово и рекох к ним: Бог Небесе, Той благопоспешит нам, и мы раби Его чистии, (востанем) и созиждем: вам же несть части и правды и памяти во Иерусалиме.

< Nehemiah 2 >