1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace, 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. 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."

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, 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, 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. 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.

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

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

1 哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的言行录： 亚达薛西王二十年基斯流月， 我在书珊宫中，

2 我的一位兄弟哈拿尼和几个人一起从犹大来到； 我询问他们关于那些从被掳逃脱的犹大余民和关于耶路撒冷的景况。

3 他们对我说： "那些从被掳剩下的余民， 在犹大省那里遭遇患难， 受到凌辱。耶路撒冷的城墙倒塌， 城门也被火烧毁。"

4 我听见了这些事， 就坐下哭泣， 悲伤了好几天， 在天上的 神面前禁食祷告，

5 说： "耶和华天上的 神， 伟大可畏的 神啊， 你向那些爱你， 遵守你诫命的人， 守约施慈爱。

6 求你侧着耳， 睁着眼的， 垂听你仆人的祷告， 我今天在你面前昼夜为着你的仆人以色列人祷告， 承认以色列人所犯的罪， 就是我与我父的家向你所犯的罪。

7 我们故意行极大的恶事得罪你， 没有遵守你吩咐你仆人摩西的诫命、律例和典章。

8 求你记念你吩咐你仆人摩西的话， 说： ‘你们若是不忠， 我就把你们分散在万民中。

9 但如果你们回心转意归向我， 谨守遵行我的诫命， 即使在你们被赶逐的天边， 我也必从那里把他们招聚回来， 带他们到我选择给我的名居住的地方那里去。’

10 这些都是你的仆人， 你的子民， 是你用你的大能和你强而有力的手所救赎的。

11 主啊， 求你留意听你仆人的祷告， 听那些喜爱敬畏你名的仆人的祷告； 求你使你的仆人今天顺利， 使他在这人面前蒙怜悯。"那时我是王的酒政。