< 尼希米记 1 >
1 哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的言语如下: 亚达薛西王二十年基斯流月,我在书珊城的宫中。
The story of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, —and it came to pass, in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, when, I, was in Shusan the fortress,
2 那时,有我一个弟兄哈拿尼,同着几个人从犹大来。我问他们那些被掳归回、剩下逃脱的犹大人和耶路撒冷的光景。
that Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men out of Judah, —so I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 他们对我说:“那些被掳归回剩下的人在犹大省遭大难,受凌辱;并且耶路撒冷的城墙拆毁,城门被火焚烧。”
And they said unto me, The remnant who are left of the captivity, there in the province, are in great misfortune and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem, is broken down, and, the gates thereof, are burned with fire.
4 我听见这话,就坐下哭泣,悲哀几日,在天上的 神面前禁食祈祷,说:
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days, —and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;
5 “耶和华—天上的 神,大而可畏的 神啊,你向爱你、守你诫命的人守约施慈爱。
and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful GOD, —keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:
6 愿你睁眼看,侧耳听,你仆人昼夜在你面前为你众仆人以色列民的祈祷,承认我们以色列人向你所犯的罪;我与我父家都有罪了。
Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—which, I, am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants, —and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father, have sinned.
7 我们向你所行的甚是邪恶,没有遵守你借着仆人摩西所吩咐的诫命、律例、典章。
We have dealt, very corruptly, against thee, —and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes nor the regulations, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.
8 求你记念所吩咐你仆人摩西的话,说:‘你们若犯罪,我就把你们分散在万民中;
Remember, I pray thee, the word, which thou didst command Moses thy servant, saying, —If, ye, are unfaithful, I, will scatter you among the peoples:
9 但你们若归向我,谨守遵行我的诫命,你们被赶散的人虽在天涯,我也必从那里将他们招聚回来,带到我所选择立为我名的居所。’
When ye return unto me and keep my commandments and do them, though it should be that ye have been driven out unto the uttermost part of the heavens, from thence, will I gather them, and bring them into the place that I have chosen to make a habitation for my Name there.
10 这都是你的仆人、你的百姓,就是你用大力和大能的手所救赎的。
They, therefore, are thy servants, and thy people, —whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy firm hand.
11 主啊,求你侧耳听你仆人的祈祷,和喜爱敬畏你名众仆人的祈祷,使你仆人现今亨通,在王面前蒙恩。” 我是作王酒政的。
I beseech thee O My Lord, let—I pray thee—thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now, I, was cup-bearer unto the king.