Nehemías 9

1 El día veinticuatro de este mes se reunieron los hijos de Israel con ayuno, con cilicio y con tierra sobre ellos.

On October 31, the people gathered together again. They (fasted/abstained from eating food), they wore clothes made from rough cloth, and they put dirt on their heads [to show that they were sorry for their sins].

2 Los descendientes de Israel se separaron de todos los extranjeros y se pusieron de pie y confesaron sus pecados y las iniquidades de sus padres.

The Israeli people separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood there and confessed their sins and the sins that their ancestors had committed.

3 Se pusieron de pie en su lugar y leyeron en el libro de la ley de Yahvé su Dios la cuarta parte del día; y la cuarta parte la confesaron y adoraron a Yahvé su Dios.

The scroll that contained the laws of Yahweh, the God whom they [worshiped], was read to them for three hours. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and they worshiped Yahweh.

4 Entonces Jesúa, Baní, Cadmiel, Sebanías, Buní, Serebías, Baní y Quenaní, de los levitas, se pusieron de pie en la escalera y clamaron en voz alta a Yahvé su Dios.

[Some of] the descendants of Levi were standing on the stairs. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, [another] Bani, and Kenani.

5 Entonces los levitas, Jesúa y Cadmiel, Baní, Hasabneías, Serebías, Hodías, Sebanías y Petaías, dijeron: “¡Ponte de pie y bendice a Yahvé, tu Dios, desde la eternidad hasta la eternidad! ¡Bendito sea tu nombre glorioso, que es exaltado sobre toda bendición y alabanza!

Then [the leaders of] the Levites called out to the people. They were Jeshua, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “While you are standing there, praise Yahweh your God, who has always lived and will live forever!” [Then one of them continued by praying this to God], “Yahweh, we praise your glorious name! You are much greater than anything that we can think about or talk about!

6 Tú eres Yahvé, tú solo. Tú has hecho el cielo, el cielo de los cielos, con todo su ejército, la tierra y todo lo que hay en ella, los mares y todo lo que hay en ellos, y tú lo conservas todo. El ejército de los cielos te adora.

“You only are God. You made the sky and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and everything that is on it, and you made the seas/oceans and everything that is in them. You are the one who gives life to everything and helps them remain alive. All the angels who are in heaven worship you.

7 Tú eres Yahvé, el Dios que eligió a Abram, lo sacó de Ur de los Caldeos, le dio el nombre de Abraham,

“Yahweh, you are God. You chose Abram and brought him out of Ur [city] in Chaldea [region]. You gave him a new name, Abraham.

8 encontró su corazón fiel ante ti, e hizo un pacto con él para darle la tierra del cananeo, del hitita, del amorreo, del ferezeo, del jebuseo y del gergeseo, para dársela a su descendencia, y has cumplido tus palabras, porque eres justo.

You saw that he was trustworthy. Then you made (an agreement with/a promise to) him, saying that you would give [to him and] to his descendants the land that the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Amor, Periz, Jebus, and Girgash lived in. And you have done what you promised, because you always do what is right.

9 “Viste la aflicción de nuestros padres en Egipto, y oíste su clamor junto al Mar Rojo,

“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.

10 y mostraste señales y prodigios contra el Faraón, contra todos sus siervos y contra todo el pueblo de su tierra, porque sabías que se burlaban de ellos, y te hiciste un nombre, como lo es hoy.

Because you knew that the leaders of Egypt were treating our ancestors very arrogantly, you performed many kinds of miracles that caused the king and his officials and all his people to suffer. As a result, you became famous then, and you are still famous!

11 Dividiste el mar delante de ellos, de modo que pasaron por el medio del mar en seco; y arrojaste a sus perseguidores a las profundidades, como una piedra a las aguas impetuosas.

You caused the Red Sea to divide, with the result that your people walked through it on the ground without [getting their feet] wet. [After they were all safely on the other side, ] you [caused the water to come back again], and you hurled into the deep water the [soldiers of the Egyptian army] that were pursuing our ancestors. Their soldiers sank into the deep sea like stones!

12 Además, en una columna de nube los guiaste de día, y en una columna de fuego de noche, para alumbrarles el camino que debían seguir.

During each day you led our ancestors with a bright cloud that resembled a huge pillar, and each night you led them by a flaming cloud that gave them light to show them where to walk.

13 “También bajaste al monte Sinaí, y hablaste con ellos desde el cielo, y les diste ordenanzas rectas y leyes verdaderas, buenos estatutos y mandamientos,

“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.

14 y les diste a conocer tu santo sábado, y les ordenaste mandamientos, estatutos y una ley, por medio de Moisés, tu siervo,

You taught them about your holy (Sabbath/day of rest), and you gave many kinds of laws to your servant Moses for him to tell to the people.

15 y les diste pan del cielo para su hambre, y les sacaste agua de la roca para su sed, y les ordenaste que entraran a poseer la tierra que habías jurado darles.

When they were hungry, you gave them manna from the sky; and when they were thirsty, you gave them water from a rock. You commanded them to go and take, from the people who lived there, the land which you had promised to give to them.

16 “Pero ellos y nuestros padres se comportaron con soberbia, endurecieron su cerviz, no escucharon tus mandamientos,

“But our ancestors were very proud and stubborn [IDM], and they did not do what you commanded them to do.

17 y se negaron a obedecer. No tuvieron en cuenta tus maravillas que hiciste entre ellos, sino que endurecieron su cerviz, y en su rebeldía nombraron un capitán para volver a su esclavitud. Pero tú eres un Dios dispuesto a perdonar, clemente y misericordioso, lento para la ira y abundante en bondades, y no los abandonaste.

They refused to heed you, and they forgot about all the miracles that you had performed for them. Instead, they became stubborn [IDM], and they appointed someone to lead them back to Egypt, where they would be slaves again! But you are a God who forgives us and who is kind and merciful [to us]. You do not quickly become angry. You always faithfully love us.

18 Sí, cuando se hicieron un becerro moldeado y dijeron: “Este es vuestro Dios, que os hizo subir de Egipto”, y cometieron horribles blasfemias,

So, even though their [leaders] made an idol that resembled a calf and insulted you by saying [about the idol], ‘This is our god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ you did not desert them.

19 pero tú, en tus múltiples misericordias, no los abandonaste en el desierto. La columna de nube no se apartó de ellos durante el día para guiarlos por el camino, ni la columna de fuego durante la noche para mostrarles la luz y el camino que debían seguir.

“Because you always act mercifully, you did not abandon them when they were in the desert. The bright cloud which was like a huge pillar continued to lead them during the daytime, and the fiery cloud showed them where to walk at night.

20 También diste tu buen Espíritu para instruirlos, y no retuviste tu maná de su boca, y les diste agua para su sed.

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them. You continued to provide water when they were thirsty.

21 “Sí, cuarenta años los sostuviste en el desierto. Nada les faltó. Sus vestidos no envejecieron y sus pies no se hincharon.

For 40 years you took care of them in the desert. During all that time, they had everything [that they needed]. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell up [even though they were continually walking].

22 Además, les diste reinos y pueblos, que asignaste según sus porciones. Así poseyeron la tierra de Sehón, la tierra del rey de Hesbón y la tierra de Og, rey de Basán.

“You helped our ancestors to defeat armies of great kings who ruled many people-groups. By doing that, you enabled our ancestors to (occupy/live in) even the most distant places in this land. They occupied the land over which King Sihon ruled from Heshbon [city] and the land over which King Og ruled in [the] Bashan [area].

23 También multiplicaste sus hijos como las estrellas del cielo, y los introdujiste en la tierra sobre la que habías dicho a sus padres que entrarían a poseerla.

You caused our ancestors’ descendants to become as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into this land, the land that you told their fathers to enter and occupy.

24 “Así que los hijos entraron y poseyeron la tierra; y tú sometiste ante ellos a los habitantes de la tierra, los cananeos, y los entregaste en sus manos, con sus reyes y los pueblos de la tierra, para que hicieran con ellos lo que quisieran.

Their sons went in and took the land [from the people that lived there]. You enabled them to defeat the descendants of Canaan who lived here in this land. You enabled them to conquer the descendants of Canaan and their kings and the people whom they ruled. You enabled our ancestors to do to those people whatever they wanted to do.

25 Tomaron ciudades fortificadas y una tierra rica, y poseyeron casas llenas de todos los bienes, cisternas excavadas, viñas, olivares y árboles frutales en abundancia. Así comieron, se saciaron, engordaron y se deleitaron en tu gran bondad.

Our ancestors captured cities that had walls around them, and they took possession of fertile land. They took possession of houses that were full of good things, where there were wells that were already dug. They took possession of many vineyards and groves of olive trees and fruit trees. They ate all that they wanted to and became fat. They were delighted in all these good things that you gave to them.

26 “Sin embargo, fueron desobedientes y se rebelaron contra ti, echaron tu ley a sus espaldas, mataron a tus profetas que testificaban contra ellos para que se volvieran a ti, y cometieron horribles blasfemias.

“But they disobeyed you and rebelled against you. They (turned their backs on/rejected) your laws. They killed the prophets who warned them that they should return to you. They badly insulted you.

27 Por eso los entregaste en manos de sus adversarios, que los angustiaron. En el tiempo de su angustia, cuando clamaron a ti, tú oíste desde el cielo; y según tus múltiples misericordias les diste salvadores que los salvaron de las manos de sus adversarios.

So you allowed their enemies to defeat them. But when their enemies caused them to suffer, they called out to you. You heard them from heaven, and because you are very merciful, you sent them people to help them, and those leaders rescued them from their enemies.

28 Pero después de haber descansado, volvieron a hacer el mal ante ti; por eso los dejaste en manos de sus enemigos, para que se enseñorearan de ellos; sin embargo, cuando volvieron y clamaron a ti, tú oíste desde el cielo; y muchas veces los libraste según tus misericordias,

“But after there was a time of peace again, our ancestors again did things that displeased you. So again you allowed their enemies to conquer them. But whenever they cried out to you again [to help them], you heard them from heaven, and because you act mercifully, you rescued them many times.

29 y diste testimonio contra ellos, para que volvieran a tu ley. Sin embargo, fueron arrogantes y no escucharon tus mandamientos, sino que pecaron contra tus ordenanzas (que si el hombre hace, vivirá en ellas), volvieron la espalda, endurecieron su cerviz y no quisieron escuchar.

“You warned them that they should again [obey] your laws, but they became proud and stubborn, and they disobeyed your commands. They sinned by disobeying what you commanded them to do, the things that would enable them to live a good long life [if they obeyed them]. They stubbornly refused [IDM] to listen to you and continued sinning.

30 Sin embargo, durante muchos años los aguantaste y les diste testimonio con tu Espíritu por medio de tus profetas. Sin embargo, no quisieron escuchar. Por eso los entregaste en manos de los pueblos de las tierras.

You were patient with them for many years. You warned them trough [the messages] your Spirit gave to the prophets. But they did not (heed/pay attention to) those messages. So again you allowed [the armies of] other nations to defeat them.

31 “Sin embargo, en tus múltiples misericordias, no les pusiste fin ni los abandonaste, porque eres un Dios clemente y misericordioso.

But because you act very mercifully, you did not get rid of them completely or abandon them [forever]. You are a very gracious/kind and merciful God!

32 Ahora, pues, Dios nuestro, el grande, el poderoso y el imponente, que guarda el pacto y la bondad amorosa, no dejes que te parezcan pequeños todos los trabajos que nos han sobrevenido, a nuestros reyes, a nuestros príncipes, a nuestros sacerdotes, a nuestros profetas, a nuestros padres y a todo tu pueblo, desde el tiempo de los reyes de Asiria hasta hoy.

“Our God, you are great! You are mighty! You are awesome! You faithfully love us as [you promised in] your agreement with us that you would do! But now we are experiencing great difficulties/hardships. Great troubles have come to us, to our kings, to our [other] leaders, to our priests, and to our prophets. We have been experiencing these troubles since [the armies of] the kings of Assyria [conquered us], and we are still experiencing them. We ask that you sincerely think about [LIT] all these things.

33 Sin embargo, tú eres justo en todo lo que ha recaído sobre nosotros; porque tú has actuado con verdad, pero nosotros hemos hecho maldad.

[We know that] you acted justly each time that you punished us. We have sinned greatly, but you have treated us fairly.

34 También nuestros reyes, nuestros príncipes, nuestros sacerdotes y nuestros padres no han guardado tu ley, ni han escuchado tus mandamientos y tus testimonios con los que testificaste contra ellos.

Our kings and other leaders and our priests and our other ancestors did not obey your laws. They did not heed your commands or the warnings that you gave to them.

35 Porque no te han servido en su reino y en tu gran bondad que les diste, y en la tierra grande y rica que les diste. No se convirtieron de sus obras malvadas.

Even when they had their own kings, and they enjoyed the good things that you did for them in this large and fertile land that you gave to them, they did not serve you. They refused to quit doing what was evil.

36 “He aquí que hoy somos siervos, y en cuanto a la tierra que diste a nuestros padres para comer su fruto y su bien, he aquí que somos siervos en ella.

“So now we are [like] slaves here in this land that you gave to our ancestors, the land that you gave to them in order that they could enjoy all the good things that grow here.

37 La tierra da muchos frutos a los reyes que has puesto sobre nosotros a causa de nuestros pecados. También tienen poder sobre nuestros cuerpos y sobre nuestro ganado, a su antojo, y estamos en gran aflicción.

Because we have sinned, [we cannot eat the things that grow here]. The kings that now rule over us are enjoying the things that grow here. They rule us and [take] our cattle. We have to serve them and do the things that please them. We are experiencing great misery/distress.

38 Sin embargo, por todo esto, hacemos un pacto seguro y lo escribimos; y nuestros príncipes, nuestros levitas y nuestros sacerdotes lo sellan.”

“However, we [Israeli] people now are making an agreement/promise [to obey you], and we are writing this agreement/promise [on a scroll]. We will write on it the names of our leaders and the names of the Levites and the names of the priests, and then we will seal it.”