The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,
那時，有我一個弟兄
that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
他們對我說：「那些被擄歸回剩下的人在
And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
我聽見這話，就坐下哭泣，悲哀幾日，在天上的神面前禁食祈禱，說：
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
「耶和華──天上的神，大而可畏的神啊，你向愛你、守你誡命的人守約施慈愛。
And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
願你睜眼看，側耳聽，你僕人晝夜在你面前為你眾僕人
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.
我們向你所行的甚是邪惡，沒有遵守你藉著僕人
We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
求你記念所吩咐你僕人
Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
但你們若歸向我，謹守遵行我的誡命，你們被趕散的人雖在天涯，我也必從那裏將他們招聚回來，帶到我所選擇立為我名的居所。』
but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’
這都是你的僕人、你的百姓，就是你用大力和大能的手所救贖的。
They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
主啊，求你側耳聽你僕人的祈禱，和喜愛敬畏你名眾僕人的祈禱，使你僕人現今亨通，在王面前蒙恩。」我是作王酒政的。
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.