Nehemiæ 1
1 Verba Nehemiae filii Helchiae. Et factum est in mense Casleu, anno vigesimo, et ego eram in Susis castro.
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
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, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning 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 said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4 Cumque audissem verba huiuscemodi, sedi, et flevi, et luxi diebus multis: ieiunabam, et orabam ante faciem Dei caeli.
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed before 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:
and said, “I beg you, LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and loving kindness 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,
let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 vanitate seducti sumus, et non custodivimus mandatum tuum, et ceremonias, et iudicia quae praecepisti Moysi famulo tuo.
We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Memento verbi, quod mandasti Moysi servo tuo, dicens: Cum transgressi fueritis, ego dispergam vos in populos:
“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you among the peoples;
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 return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’
10 Et ipsi servi tui, et populus tuus: quos redemisti in fortitudine tua magna, et in manu tua valida.
“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
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, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
