Neemias 1
1 As palavras de Nehemias, filho de Hacalias. E sucedeu no mês de chisleu, no ano vigésimo, estando eu em Susan, a fortaleza,
[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].
2 Que veio Hanani, um de meus irmãos, ele e alguns de Judá; e perguntei-lhes pelos judeus que escaparam, e que restaram do cativeiro, e acerca de Jerusalém.
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.
3 E disseram-me: Os restantes, que restaram do cativeiro, lá na província estão em grande miséria e desprezo: e o muro de Jerusalém fendido, e as suas portas queimadas a fogo.
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.”
4 E sucedeu que, ouvindo eu estas palavras, assentei-me e chorei, e lamentei por alguns dias: e estive jejuando e orando perante o Deus dos céus.
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.
5 E disse: Ah Senhor, Deus dos céus, Deus grande e terrível! que guarda o concerto e a benignidade para com aqueles que o amam e guardam os seus mandamentos;
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.
6 Estejam pois atentos os teus ouvidos, e os teus olhos abertos, para ouvires a oração do teu servo, que eu hoje oro perante ti, de dia e de noite, pelos filhos de Israel, teus servos: e faço confissão pelos pecados dos filhos de Israel, que pecamos contra ti; também eu e a casa de meu pai pecamos.
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.
7 De todo nos corrompemos contra ti, e não guardamos os mandamentos, nem os estatutos, nem os juízos, que ordenaste a Moisés teu servo.
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.
8 Lembra-te pois da palavra que ordenaste a Moisés, teu servo, dizendo: Vós transgredireis, e eu vos espalharei entre os povos.
“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]).
9 E vós vos convertereis a mim, e guardareis os meus mandamentos, e os fareis: então, ainda que os vossos rejeitados estiverem no cabo do céu, de lá os ajuntarei e os trarei ao lugar que tenho escolhido para ali fazer habitar o meu nome.
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.’
10 Ainda são teus servos e o teu povo que resgataste com a tua grande força e com a tua forte mão.
“We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
11 Ah, Senhor, estejam pois atentos os teus ouvidos à oração do teu servo, e à oração dos teus servos que desejam temer o teu nome; e faze prosperar hoje o teu servo, e dá-lhe graça perante este homem. Então era eu copeiro do rei.
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].
