< Nehemiah 1 >
1 The words of Neemias the son of Chelcia. And it came to pass in the month Chaseleu, of the twentieth year, that I was in Susan the palace.
哈加里亞的兒子乃赫米雅的言行錄:在第二十年「基斯婁」月,我在穌撒禁城時,
2 And Anani, one of my brethren, came, he and [some] men of Juda; and I asked them concerning those that had escaped, who had been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
有我的一個兄弟哈納尼,和幾個人由猶大上來,我問及他們,關於那些由充軍回國的猶太遺民,和耶路撒冷的情形;
3 And they said to me, The remnant, [even] those that are left of the captivity, [are] there in the land, in great distress and reproach: and the walls of Jerusalem [are] thrown down, and its gates are burnt with fire.
他們回答我說:「充軍回國的那些遺民,在省裏遭大難,受污辱;耶路撒冷城垣坍塌,城門為火焚毀。」
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, [that] I sat down and wept, and mourned for [several] days, and continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
我一聽說這些事,就坐下涕哭,悲痛了幾天,同時也在上主天主前,禁食祈禱,
5 And I said, Nay, I pray thee, O Lord God of heaven, the mighty, the great and terrible, keeping thy covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to those that keep his commandments:
說:「唉! 上主,天上的天主! 偉大可畏的天主! 那對愛你和守你誡命的人,履行信約,施行慈愛的,
6 let now thine ear be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, this day [both] day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and make confession for the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and the house of my father have sinned.
求你側耳,求你睜眼,俯聽你僕人的祈禱即我,現今在你面前,日夜為你的僕人以色列子民所行的祈禱。我承認以色列子民對你所犯的罪過,因為我和我父家都犯了罪。
7 We have altogether broken [covenant] with thee, and we have not kept the commandments, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which thou didst command thy servant Moses.
我們的確作惡得罪了你,沒有遵守你吩咐你的僕人梅瑟,所立定的誡命、律令和典章。
8 Remember, I pray thee, the word wherewith thou didst charge thy servant Moses, saying, If ye break covenant [with me], I will disperse you among the nations.
求你記憶你向你的僕人梅瑟所吩咐的話說:如果你們不忠實,我要將你們分散在萬民之中;
9 But if ye turn again to me, and keep my commandments, and do them; if ye should be scattered under the utmost [bound] of heaven, thence will I gather them, and I will bring them into the place which I have chosen to cause my name to dwell there.
但如果你們又回心歸向我,遵守履行我的誡命,即便你們分散到天涯地角,我也要從那裏,將你們聚集起來,領你們到我所選,為作我名居所的地方去。──
10 Now they [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy great power, and with thy strong hand.
他們都是你的僕人,你的人民,是你用強力和大能的手,所拯救出來的。
11 [Turn] not [away], I pray thee, O Lord, but let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and cause him to find mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was the king's cup-bearer.
我主,求你側耳俯聽你僕人的祈禱,傾聽這些喜愛敬畏你名的僕人的祈禱! 求你今天使你的僕人順利,使他在那人前獲得寵遇。」我當時是君王的酒政。