Nehemias 1
1 Nehemias's, Hakaljas Søns, Beretning. I Kislev Maaned i det tyvende Aar, medens jeg var i Borgen i Susan,
The history of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. Now it came about, in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, when I was in Shushan, the king's town,
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 with certain men from Judah; and in answer to my request for news of the Jews who had been prisoners and had got away, and of 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 small band of Jews now living there in the land are in great trouble and shame: the wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its doorways 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,
Then, after hearing these words, for some days I gave myself up to weeping and sorrow, seated on the earth; and taking no food I made prayer to 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, O Lord, the God of heaven, the great God, greatly to be feared, keeping faith and mercy with those who have love for him and are true to his laws:
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 take note and let your eyes be open, so that you may give ear to the prayer of your servant, which I make before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel, your servants, while I put before you the sins of the children of Israel, which we have done against you: truly, I and my father's people are sinners.
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 done great wrong against you, and have not kept the orders, the rules, and the decisions, which you gave to 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;
Keep in mind, O Lord, the order you gave your servant Moses, saying, If you do wrong I will send you wandering 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 come back to me and keep my orders and do them, even if those of you who have been forced out are living in the farthest parts of heaven, I will get them from there, and take them back to the place marked out by me for the resting-place of my name.
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 made yours 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.
O Lord, let your ear take note of the prayer of your servant, and of the prayers of your servants, who take delight in worshipping your name: give help, O Lord, to your servant this day, and let him have mercy in the eyes of this man. (Now I was the king's wine-servant.)
