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

The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the fortress 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

that one of my brothers, Hanani, came with some people from Judah, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, the remnant of the Jews who were there, and 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

They said to me, “Those in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace because the wall of Jerusalem has been broken open, and its gates have been set on 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

As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and for days I continued grieving and 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, “You are Yahweh, God of heaven, the God who is great and awesome, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love 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

Listen to my prayer and open your eyes, so you may hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants. I am confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned 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 acted very wickedly against you, and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules you commanded 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

Please call to mind the word you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you act unfaithfully, 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 follow my commandments and do them, though your people were scattered under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to that place where I have chosen to make my name remain.'

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

Now they are your servants and your people, whom you have rescued by your great power and by your strong 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

Yahweh, I beg you, listen now to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to honor your name. Now give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” I served as cupbearer to the king.