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].
PALABRAS de Nehemías, hijo de Hachâlías. Y acaeció en el mes de Chisleu, en el año veinte, estando yo en Susán, capital 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.
Que vino Hanani, uno de mis hermanos, él y ciertos varones de Judá, y preguntéles por los Judíos que habían escapado, 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: El residuo, los que quedaron de la cautividad allí en la provincia, están en gran mal y afrenta, y el muro de Jerusalem derribado, y sus puertas quemadas á 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 fué 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: Ruégote, oh Jehová, Dios de los cielos, fuerte, grande, y terrible, que guarda el pacto y la misericordia á 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.
Esté ahora atento tu oído, y tus ojos abiertos, para oir la oración de tu siervo, que yo hago ahora delante de ti día y noche, por los hijos de Israel tus siervos; y confieso los pecados de los hijos de Israel que hemos contra ti cometido; sí, 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.
En extremo nos hemos corrompido contra ti, y no hemos guardado los mandamientos, y estatutos y juicios, que mandaste á 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 ordenaste á Moisés tu siervo, diciendo: Vosotros prevaricaréis, y yo os esparciré por 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.’
Mas os volveréis á mí, y guardaréis mis mandamientos, y los pondréis por obra. Si fuere vuestro lanzamiento hasta el cabo de los cielos, de allí os juntaré; y traerlos 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 gran fortaleza, 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].
Ruégote, oh Jehová, esté ahora atento tu oído á la oración de tu siervo, y á la oración de tus siervos, quienes desean temer tu nombre: y ahora concede hoy próspero suceso á tu siervo, y dale gracia delante de aquel varón. Porque yo servía de copero al rey.
