1 The words of Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in the month of Casleu, the twentieth year, and I was in Susis the castle.
1 The words of Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in the month of Casleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle of Susa,
2 And Hanani one of my brethren came, himself and men of Juda, and I asked them of the Jews, that remained, and were left alive of the captivity, and of Jerusalem.
2 That Hanani one of my brethren came, he and some men of Juda; and I asked them concerning the Jews, that remained and were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me: They that remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and in reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.
3 And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire.
4 And when I had heard these manner of words, I sat, and wept, and mourned many days: and fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.
4 And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.
5 And I said: I beseech thee Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, which keepest covenant and mercy with them that love thee, and keep thy commandments:
5 And I said: ¹I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, and keep thy commandments:
6 let thine ears be harkening, and thine eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee this day, night and day for the children of Israel thy servants: and I confess for the sins of the children of Israel, in which they have sinned to thee: I and my father's house have sinned,
6 Let thy ears be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, night and day, for the children of Israel thy servants: and I confess the sins of the children of Israel, by which they have sinned against thee: I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 we have been seduced with vanity, & have not kept the commandments & ceremonies & judgment, which thou hast commanded to Moyses thy servant.
7 We have been seduced by vanity, and have not kept thy commandments, and ceremonies and judgments, which thou hast commanded thy servant Moses.
8 Remember the word, that thou didst command unto Moyses thy servant, saying: When you shall transgress, I will disperse you into peoples:
8 Remember the word that thou commandedst to Moses thy servant, saying: If you shall transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9 and if you return to me, and keep my precepts, and do them, although you shall be led away to the uttermost parts of heaven, thence will I gather you, and bring you back into the place, which I have chosen that my name should dwell there.
9 But if you return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though you should be led away to the uttermost parts of the world, I will gather you from thence, and bring you back to the place which I have chosen for my name to dwell there.
10 And they are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast redeemed in thy great strength, and in thy mighty hand.
10 And these are thy servants, and thy people: whom thou hast redeemed by thy great strength, and by thy mighty hand.
11 I beseech thee Lord, let thine ear be attent to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, which will fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man. For I was the king's cup-bearer.
11 I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.