Nehemiah 1
1 [the] words of Nehemiah [the] son of Hacaliah and it was in [the] month of (Kislev *Q(k)*) year twenty and I I was in Susa the citadel.
[I am] Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. [I am writing] this account [of what I did when I returned to Jerusalem. After King Artaxerxes had been ruling the Persian Empire] for almost 20 years, near the end of that year, I was in Susa, the capital [of Persia].
2 And he came Hanani one of brothers my he and people from Judah and I asked them about the Jews the escaped remnant who they had survived from the captivity and on Jerusalem.
My brother Hanani came to visit me. He and some other men had just returned from Judah. I queried them about the Jews who were living there, whose [parents] had been (exiled/taken forcefully) [to Babylonia many years previously]. I also asked them about [what was happening in] Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me the survivors who they have survived from the captivity there in the province [are] in trouble great and in disgrace and [the] wall of Jerusalem [has been] broken down and gates its they have been burned with fire.
They said to me, “The Jews in Jerusalem who returned there from Babylonia are living in a very difficult situation. The walls of the city have been broken down, and even the city gates have been burned down.”
4 And it was when heard I - the words these I sat down and I wept and I mourned! days and I was fasting and praying before [the] God of the heavens.
When I heard that, I sat down and cried. For several days I mourned, and I (fasted/abstained from eating food), and I prayed to our God, [who is/rules] in heaven.
5 And I said I beg you O Yahweh [the] God of the heavens the God great and awesome [who] keeps the covenant and covenant loyalty to [those who] love him and to [those who] keep commandments his.
I said, “Yahweh, [you who are/rule] in heaven, you are a wonderful and awesome God. You keep your promise to faithfully love those who love you and who obey your commands.
6 May it be please ear your attentive and eyes your open to listen to [the] prayer of servant your which I [am] praying before you this day by day and night on [the] people of Israel servants your and [am] confessing on [the] sins of [the] people of Israel which we have sinned to you and I and [the] house of father my we have sinned.
Now please look down and listen to what I am praying. I pray during the day and at night for your Israeli people. I confess that we Israeli people have sinned. Even my family and I have sinned against you.
7 Surely we have acted corruptly to you and not we have kept the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you commanded Moses servant your.
We have acted very wickedly. [Many years ago] your servant Moses gave us your laws and all the things you commanded us to do [DOU], but we have not obeyed/done them.
8 Remember please the word which you commanded Moses servant your saying you you will act unfaithfully I I will scatter you among the peoples.
“But please remember what you told your servant Moses. You said, ‘If you sin, I will scatter you among the ([heathen nations/nations that do not believe in me]).
9 And you will turn back to me and you will keep commandments my and you will observe them if it will be banished [one] your at [the] end of the heavens from there I will gather them (and I will bring them *Q(k)*) to the place where I have chosen to cause to dwell name my there.
But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you have been exiled to very remote/distant places on the earth, I will bring you back here [to Israel], the land that I [MTY] have chosen to be honored in.’
10 And they [are] servants your and people your whom you redeemed by strength your great and by hand your mighty.
“We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
11 I beg you O Lord may it be please ear your attentive to [the] prayer of servant your and to [the] prayer of servants your delighting to fear name your and grant success! please to servant your this day and give him compassion before the man this and I I was cup bearer of the king.
Yahweh, please hear this prayer of mine, and the prayers of all your people who are delighted to revere you [MTY]. Today I will go to the king, to request that he do me a great favor. Please motivate him to act kindly toward me, in order that I will be successful [in obtaining what I want].” At that time, I was the one whose work was to taste all the food and drink before it was served to the king, [to be sure that no one had put poison in it].
