Liber Nehemiae, 1
1. Verba Nehemiae filii Hacha liae. Et factum est in mense Ca sleu, anno vicesimo, et ego eram in castro Susan.
1. The words of Nehemi'ah the son of Hacali'ah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital,
2. Et venit Hanani unus de fratribus meis, ipse et viri ex Iuda; et interrogavi eos de Iudaeis, qui salvati erant et supererant de captivitate, et de Ierusalem.
2. that Hana'ni, one of my brethren, came with certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that survived, who had escaped exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
3. Et dixerunt mihi: “Superstites, qui supererant de captivitate ibi in provincia, in afflictione magna sunt et in opprobrio; et murus Ierusalem dissipatus est, et portae eius combustae sunt igne”.
3. And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire."
4. Cumque audissem verba huiuscemodi, sedi et flevi et luxi diebus multis; ieiunabam et orabam ante faciem Dei caeli.
4. When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5. Et dixi: “Quaeso, Domine, Deus caeli, Deus fortis, magne atque terribilis, qui custodis pactum et misericordiam cum his, qui te diligunt et custodiunt mandata tua;
5. And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments;
6. fiat auris tua auscultans, et oculi tui aperti, ut audias orationem servi tui, quam ego oro coram te hodie, die et nocte pro filiis Israel servis tuis, et confiteor pro peccatis filiorum Israel, quibus peccaverunt tibi. Ego quoque et domus patris mei peccavimus,
6. let thy ear be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant which I now pray before thee day and night for the people of Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
7. delinquentes deliquimus contra te et non custodivimus praecepta et mandata et iudicia, quae praecepisti Moysi famulo tuo.
7. We have acted very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which thou didst command thy servant Moses.
8. Memento verbi, quod mandasti Moysi servo tuo dicens: “Cum transgressi fueritis, ego dispergam vos in populos;
8. Remember the word which thou didst command thy servant Moses, saying, `If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples;
9. si autem revertamini ad me et custodiatis praecepta mea et faciatis ea, etiamsi abducti fueritis in extrema caeli, inde congregabo vos et reducam in locum quem elegi, ut habitaret nomen meum ibi”.
9. but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them thence and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.'
10. Ipsi enim sunt servi tui et populus tuus, quos redemisti in fortitudine tua magna et in manu tua valida.
10. They are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand.
11. Obsecro, Domine, sit auris tua attendens ad orationem servi tui et ad orationem servorum tuorum, qui volunt timere nomen tuum; et fac servum tuum prosperari hodie et da ei gratiam ante virum hunc”. Ego enim eram pincerna regis.
11. O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name; and give success to thy servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
