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 happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
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 brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who 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.
They said to me, "The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates 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,
It happened, 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 beg you, YHWH, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who 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 your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, 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 you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your 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 beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you trespass, 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 you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to 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 your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your 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.
Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cup bearer to the king.
