< 尼希米記 1 >
1 哈迦利亞的兒子尼希米的言語如下: 亞達薛西王二十年基斯流月,我在書珊城的宮中。
Words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it cometh to pass, in the month of Chisleu, the twentieth year, and I have been in Shushan the palace,
2 那時,有我一個弟兄哈拿尼,同着幾個人從猶大來。我問他們那些被擄歸回、剩下逃脫的猶大人和耶路撒冷的光景。
and come in doth Hanani, one of my brethren, he and men of Judah, and I ask them concerning the Jews, the escaped part that have been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;
3 他們對我說:「那些被擄歸回剩下的人在猶大省遭大難,受凌辱;並且耶路撒冷的城牆拆毀,城門被火焚燒。」
and they say to me, 'Those left, who have been left of the captivity there in the province, [are] in great evil, and in reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burnt with fire.'
4 我聽見這話,就坐下哭泣,悲哀幾日,在天上的上帝面前禁食祈禱,說:
And it cometh to pass, at my hearing these words, I have sat down, and I weep and mourn [for] days, and I am fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.
5 「耶和華-天上的上帝,大而可畏的上帝啊,你向愛你、守你誡命的人守約施慈愛。
And I say, 'I beseech thee, O Jehovah, God of the heavens, God, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and kindness for those loving Him, and for those keeping His commands,
6 願你睜眼看,側耳聽,你僕人晝夜在你面前為你眾僕人以色列民的祈禱,承認我們以色列人向你所犯的罪;我與我父家都有罪了。
let Thine ear be, I pray Thee, attentive, and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I am praying before Thee to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Thy servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;
7 我們向你所行的甚是邪惡,沒有遵守你藉着僕人摩西所吩咐的誡命、律例、典章。
we have acted very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments, that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant.
8 求你記念所吩咐你僕人摩西的話,說:『你們若犯罪,我就把你們分散在萬民中;
'Remember, I pray Thee, the word that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant, saying, Ye — ye trespass — I scatter you among peoples;
9 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。』
and ye have turned back unto Me, and kept My commands, and done them — if your outcast is in the end of the heavens, thence I gather them, and have brought them in unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to tabernacle there.
10 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。
And they [are] Thy servants, and Thy people, whom Thou hast ransomed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong hand.
11 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。
'I beseech Thee, O Lord, let, I pray Thee, Thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto the prayer of Thy servants, those delighting to fear Thy Name; and give prosperity, I pray Thee, to Thy servant to-day, and give him for mercies before this man;' and I have been butler to the king.