Nehemiah 1

1 These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,

Verba Nehemiæ filii Helchiæ. Et factum est in mense Casleu, anno vigesimo, et ego eram in Susis castro.

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

Et venit Hanani unus de fratribus meis, ipse et viri ex Iuda: et interrogavi eos de Iudæis, qui remanserant, et supererant de captivitate, et Ierusalem.

3 And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

Et dixerunt mihi: Qui remanserunt, et relicti sunt de captivitate ibi in provincia, in afflictione magna sunt, et in opprobrio: et murus Ierusalem dissipatus est, et portæ eius combustæ sunt igni.

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Cumque audissem verba huiuscemodi, sedi, et flevi, et luxi diebus multis: ieiunabam, et orabam ante faciem Dei cæli.

5 Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Et dixi: Quæso Domine Deus cæli fortis, magne atque terribilis, qui custodis pactum et misericordiam cum his qui te diligunt, et custodiunt mandata tua:

6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.

fiant aures tuæ auscultantes, et oculi tui aperti ut audias orationem servi tui, quam ego oro coram te hodie nocte et die pro filiis Israel servis tuis: et confiteor pro peccatis filiorum Israel, quibus peccaverunt tibi: ego, et domus patris mei peccavimus,

7 We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

vanitate seducti sumus, et non custodivimus mandatum tuum, et ceremonias, et iudicia quæ præcepisti Moysi famulo tuo.

8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

Memento verbi, quod mandasti Moysi servo tuo, dicens: Cum transgressi fueritis, ego dispergam vos in populos:

9 but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

et si revertamini ad me, et custodiatis præcepta mea, et faciatis ea; etiamsi abducti fueritis ad extrema cæli, inde congregabo vos, et reducam in locum, quem elegi ut habitaret nomen meum ibi.

10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.

Et ipsi servi tui, et populus tuus: quos redemisti in fortitudine tua magna, et in manu tua valida.

11 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)

Obsecro Domine, sit auris tua attendens ad orationem servi tui, et ad orationem servorum tuorum, qui volunt timere nomen tuum: et dirige servum tuum hodie, et da ei misericordiam ante virum hunc. ego enim eram pincerna regis.