Nehemiah 1
1 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,
Relato de Nehemías, hijo de Hacalías. En el mes Kislev del año vigésimo, estando yo en el palacio de Susa,
2 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,
vino Hananí, uno de mis hermanos, con algunos hombres de Judá. Yo les pregunté por los judíos liberados, los sobrevivientes del cautiverio, y por Jerusalén;
3 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.
y ellos me contestaron: “Los que han quedado, los sobrevivientes del cautiverio, viven allá en la provincia en gran miseria y oprobio; y las murallas de Jerusalén se hallan en ruinas y sus puertas consumidas por el fuego.”
4 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,
Cuando oí estas palabras, me senté y me puse a llorar; e hice duelo algunos días, ayunando y orando delante del Dios del cielo.
5 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:
Y dije: “Te ruego, oh Yahvé, Dios del cielo, Dios grande y terrible, que guardas la alianza y la misericordia con los que te aman y observan tus mandamientos;
6 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.
préstenme atención tus oídos, y ábranse tus ojos, para escuchar la oración que yo, siervo tuyo, elevo ahora delante de Ti, día y noche, por tus siervos, los hijos de Israel, a la vez que confieso los pecados de los hijos de Israel, cometidos por nosotros contra Ti; porque yo y la casa de mi padre hemos pecado.
7 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.
Te hemos ofendido gravemente; no hemos guardado los mandamientos, las leyes y los preceptos que Tú prescribiste a tu siervo Moisés.
8 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:
Acuérdate, te ruego, de la palabra que intimaste a Moisés, tu siervo, diciendo: Si fuereis infieles, os esparciré entre las naciones;
9 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.
si, en cambio, os convirtiereis a Mí, guardando mis mandamientos y poniéndolos por obra, reuniré a tus desterrados, aunque estuvieran en el punto más extremo del cielo, y los llevaré al lugar que he escogido para que habite allí mi Nombre.
10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have made yours by your great power and by your strong hand.
Pues siervos tuyos son, y pueblo tuyo, que Tú redimiste con tu gran poder y con tu fuerte mano.
11 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.)
Te ruego, oh Señor, que prestes atento oído a la oración de tu siervo, y a la plegaria de tus siervos que se complacen en temer tu nombre. Da ahora éxito a tu siervo, y concédele que halle gracia delante de este hombre”; pues era yo entonces copero del rey.
