ネヘミヤ 記 1

1 ハカリヤの子ネヘミヤの言詞／第二十年キスレウの月我シユシヤンの都にありける時

These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,

2 わが兄弟の一人なるハナニ數人の者とともにユダより來りしかば我俘虜人の遺餘なる夫の逃れかへりしユダヤ人の事およびヱルサレムの事を問たづねしに

Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 彼ら我に言けるは俘虜人の遺餘なる夫の州内の民は大なる患難に遭ひ凌辱に遭ふ又ヱルサレムの石垣は打崩され其門は火に焚たりと

And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

4 我この言を聞坐りて泣き數日の間哀しみ斷食し天の神に祈りて言ふ

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5 天の神ヱホバ大なる畏るべき神己を愛し己の誡命を守る者にむかひて契約を保ち恩惠を施こしたまふ者よ

Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

6 ねがはくは耳を傾むけ目を開きて僕の祈祷を聽いれたまへ我いま汝の僕なるイスラエルの子孫のために日夜なんぢの前に祈り我儕イスラエルの子孫が汝にむかひて犯せし罪を懺悔す誠に我も我父の家も罪を犯せり

let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.

7 我らは汝にむかひて大に惡き事を行ひ汝の僕モーセに汝の命じたまひし誡命をも法度をも例規をも守らざりき

We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.

8 請ふ汝の僕モーセに命じたまひし言を憶ひたまへ其言に云く汝ら若罪を犯さば我汝らを國々に散さん

Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 然れども汝らもし我にたちかへり我誡命を守りてこれを行なはば暇令逐れゆきて天の涯にをるとも我そこより汝等をあつめ我名を住はせんとて撰びし處にきたらしめんと

but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

10 そもそも是等の者は汝が大なる能力と強き手をもて贖ひたまひし汝の僕なんぢの民なり

They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.

11 主よ請ふ僕の祈祷および汝の名を畏むことを悦こぶ汝の僕等の祈祷に耳を傾けたまへ願くは今日僕を助けて此人の目の前に憐憫を得させたまへこの時我は王の酒人なりき

O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)