Nehemiah 1
1 [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].
Las palabras de Nehemías, hijo de Hequelías. Y fue en el mes de Casleu, en el año veinte, yo estaba en Susán, la cabecera del reino.
2 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.
Y vino Janani, uno de mis hermanos, él y otros varones de Judá: y preguntéles por los Judíos escapados, que habían quedado de la cautividad, y por Jerusalem.
3 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.”
Y dijéronme: La resta, los que quedaron de la cautividad allí en la provincia, están en gran mal y vergüenza: y el muro de Jerusalem derribado, y sus puertas quemadas a fuego.
4 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.
Y fue, que como yo oí estas palabras, sentéme, y lloré, y enlutéme por algunos días; y ayuné, y oré delante del Dios de los cielos,
5 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.
Y dije: Ruego, oh Jehová, Dios de los cielos, fuerte, grande, y terrible, que guarda el concierto y la misericordia a los que le aman, y guardan sus mandamientos:
6 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.
Sea ahora tu oído atento, y tus ojos abiertos, para oír la oración de tu siervo, que yo oro delante de ti hoy, día y noche, por los hijos de Israel tus siervos, y confieso los pecados de los hijos de Israel que pecamos contra ti: y yo, y la casa de mi padre hemos pecado:
7 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.
Rebelando nos hemos rebelado, y apostatado de ti, y no hemos guardado los mandamientos, y estatutos, y juicios, que mandaste a Moisés tu siervo.
8 “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]).
Acuérdate ahora de la palabra que mandaste a Moisés tu siervo, diciendo: Vosotros prevaricaréis, y yo os esparciré en los pueblos:
9 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.’
Y volveros heis a mí, y guardaréis mis mandamientos, y los haréis. Si fuere vuestro alanzamiento hasta el cabo de los cielos, de allí os juntaré: y traeros he al lugar que escogí para hacer habitar allí mi nombre.
10 “We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
Ellos pues son tus siervos y tu pueblo, los cuales redimiste con tu fortaleza grande, y con tu mano fuerte.
11 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].
Ruego, oh Jehová, sea ahora tu oído atento a la oración de tu siervo, y a la oración de tus siervos, que desean temer tu nombre; y da ahora buen suceso hoy a tu siervo: y dále gracia delante de aquel varón. Porque era yo el copero del rey.
