Nehemiah, 1

1. The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

1. The words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, I was in the Citadel of Susa when

2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

2. Hanani, one of my brothers, came with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jewish survivors who had returned from exile and about Jerusalem.

3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province [are] in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also [is] broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

3. They answered me, "The people now live there in the province, in the midst of great poverty and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates burned."

4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

4. When I heard these words, I sat down, wept and mourned for days. I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

5. And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

5. And I said, "O Yahweh, God of heaven, you are fearsome and great. You keep your covenant and your kindness towards those who love you and fulfill your commandments.

6. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

6. May your ears be attentive and your eyes open to listen to the prayer of your servant! I am now in your presence day and night, for your servants, the children of Israel. I confess to you the sins we children of Israel have committed against you: I myself and the family of my father have sinned.

7. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

7. We have acted very badly. We did not fulfill your commandments, laws and instructions which you gave to your servant Moses.

8. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

8. But remember, too, what you said to Moses: If you are not faithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.

9. But [if] ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, [yet] will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

9. But if you fulfill my commandments and put them into practice, I shall again lead you back to the place where I have chosen to dwell. I shall gather you, though you be dispersed to the ends of the world.

10. Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

10. So then, Lord, do not forget that they are your servants; they are your people, whom you have saved with your great power and strong hand.

11. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

11. Listen to my prayer and to the prayer of those who only wish to honor your Name. I ask you to help me now. May I be well received by the king." I was then in charge of preparing the drinks of the king.