Nehemias 1
1 Nehemias's, Hakaljas Søns, Beretning. I Kislev Maaned i det tyvende Aar, medens jeg var i Borgen i Susan,
THE WORDS of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the castle,
2 kom Hanani, en af mine Brødre, sammen med nogle Mænd fra Juda. Og da jeg udspurgte dem om Jøderne, den Rest, der var undsluppet fra Fangenskabet, og om Jerusalem,
that Hanani, one of my brethren, came out of Judah, he and certain men; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 sagde de til mig: De tiloversblevne, de, som er tilbage fra Fangenskabet der i Landet, lever i stor Nød og Forsmædelse, og Jerusalems Mur er nedrevet og Portene opbrændt.
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.'
4 Da jeg hørte denne Tidende, satte jeg mig hen og græd og sørgede i flere Dage, og jeg fastede og bad for Himmelens Guds Aasyn,
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 idet jeg sagde: Ak, HERRE, Himmelens Gud, du store, frygtelige Gud, som tager Vare paa Pagten og Miskundheden mod dem, der elsker dig og holder dine Bud!
and said: 'I beseech Thee, O LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awful God, that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments;
6 Lad dog dit Øre være lydhørt og dit Øje aabent, saa du hører din Tjeners Bøn, som jeg nu beder for dit Aasyn baade Nat og Dag for dine Tjenere Israeliterne, idet jeg bekender deres Synder, som vi — ogsaa jeg og min Faders Hus — har begaaet imod dig.
let Thine ear now be attentive, and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel Thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
7 Saare ilde har vi handlet imod dig, og vi har ikke holdt de Bud, Anordninger og Lovbud, du paalagde din Tjener Moses.
We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses.
8 Kom det Ord i Hu, som du paalagde din Tjener Moses: Dersom I er troløse, vil jeg adsplitte eder blandt Folkene;
Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying: If ye deal treacherously, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;
9 men hvis I omvender eder til mig og holder mine Bud og handler efter dem, saa vil jeg, om eders fordrevne end er ved Himmelens Ende, dog samle dem derfra og bringe dem til det Sted, jeg udvalgte til Bolig for mit Navn.
but if ye return unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were in 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 cause My name to dwell there.
10 De er jo dine Tjenere og dit Folk, som du udløste ved din store Kraft og din stærke Haand.
Now these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong hand.
11 Ak, Herre, lad dit Øre være lydhørt for din Tjeners og dine Tjeneres Bøn, vi, som gerne vil frygte dit Navn, og lad det i Dag lykkes for din Tjener og lad ham finde Naade for denne Mands Aasyn! Jeg var nemlig Mundskænk hos Kongen.
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 delight to fear Thy name; and prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.' Now I was cupbearer to the king.
