Nehemiæ 1

1 Verba Nehemiae filii Helchiae. Et factum est in mense Casleu, anno vigesimo, et ego eram in Susis castro.

This is the account of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was in the fortress at Susa.

2 Et venit Hanani unus de fratribus meis, ipse et viri Iuda: et interrogavi eos de Iudaeis, qui remanserant, et supererant de captivitate, et Ierusalem.

Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men. I asked them about the remnant of the Jewish exiles who had returned from captivity, and also about Jerusalem.

3 Et dixerunt mihi: Qui remanserunt, et relicti sunt de captivitate ibi in provincia, in afflictione magna sunt, et in opprobrio: et murus Ierusalem dissipatus est, et portae eius combustae sunt igni.

They told me, “The remnant who are left from the exile are there in the province, but they are having a great deal of trouble and feel humiliated. Jerusalem's walls have been knocked over, and its gates burned down.”

4 Cumque audissem verba huiuscemodi, sedi, et flevi, et luxi diebus multis: ieiunabam, et orabam ante faciem Dei caeli.

When I heard the news, I sat down, weeping and mourning for days, fasting and praying to the God of heaven.

5 Et dixi: Quaeso Domine Deus caeli fortis, magne atque terribilis, qui custodis pactum et misericordiam cum his qui te diligunt, et custodiunt mandata tua:

Then I prayed, “Please, Lord God of heaven—the great and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love with those who love him and keep his commandments—

6 fiant aures tuae auscultantes, et oculi tui aperti ut audias orationem servi tui, quam ego oro coram te hodie nocte et die pro filiis Israel servis tuis: et confiteor pro peccatis filiorum Israel, quibus peccaverunt tibi: ego, et domus patris mei peccavimus,

please listen and focus your attention on the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you now, day and night, on behalf of your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you, including my own sins and those of my family.

7 vanitate seducti sumus, et non custodivimus mandatum tuum, et ceremonias, et iudicia quae praecepisti Moysi famulo tuo.

We have done terrible things to offend you and we have not kept the commandments, laws, and regulations that you gave to your servant Moses.

8 Memento verbi, quod mandasti Moysi servo tuo, dicens: Cum transgressi fueritis, ego dispergam vos in populos:

Please remember what you told Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 et si revertamini ad me, et custodiatis praecepta mea, et faciatis ea; etiamsi abducti fueritis ad extrema caeli, inde congregabo vos, et reducam in locum, quem elegi ut habitaret nomen meum ibi.

but if you come back to me and follow my commandments and obey them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will gather them together and bring them to the place I have chosen where I will be honored.

10 Et ipsi servi tui, et populus tuus: quos redemisti in fortitudine tua magna, et in manu tua valida.

They are your servants and our people. You saved them by your great power and incredible ability.

11 Obsecro Domine, sit auris tua attendens ad orationem servi tui, et ad orationem servorum tuorum, qui volunt timere nomen tuum: et dirige servum tuum hodie, et da ei misericordiam ante virum hunc. ego enim eram pincerna regis.

Lord, please respond to my prayer and to the prayers of those who love to worship you. Please let me be successful today and make the king sympathetic to me.” I was the king's cupbearer.