Nehemías 1
1 Las palabras de Nehemías, hijo de Hequelías. Y fue en el mes de Casleu, en el año veinte, yo estaba en Susán, la cabecera del reino.
[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 Y vino Janani, uno de mis hermanos, él y otros varones de Judá: y preguntéles por los Judíos escapados, que habían quedado de la cautividad, y por Jerusalem.
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 Y dijéronme: La resta, los que quedaron de la cautividad allí en la provincia, están en gran mal y vergüenza: y el muro de Jerusalem derribado, y sus puertas quemadas a fuego.
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 Y fue, que como yo oí estas palabras, sentéme, y lloré, y enlutéme por algunos días; y ayuné, y oré delante del Dios de los cielos,
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 Y dije: Ruego, oh Jehová, Dios de los cielos, fuerte, grande, y terrible, que guarda el concierto y la misericordia a los que le aman, y guardan sus mandamientos:
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 Sea ahora tu oído atento, y tus ojos abiertos, para oír la oración de tu siervo, que yo oro delante de ti hoy, día y noche, por los hijos de Israel tus siervos, y confieso los pecados de los hijos de Israel que pecamos contra ti: y yo, y la casa de mi padre hemos pecado:
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 Rebelando nos hemos rebelado, y apostatado de ti, y no hemos guardado los mandamientos, y estatutos, y juicios, que mandaste a Moisés tu siervo.
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 Acuérdate ahora de la palabra que mandaste a Moisés tu siervo, diciendo: Vosotros prevaricaréis, y yo os esparciré en los pueblos:
“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 Y volveros heis a mí, y guardaréis mis mandamientos, y los haréis. Si fuere vuestro alanzamiento hasta el cabo de los cielos, de allí os juntaré: y traeros he al lugar que escogí para hacer habitar allí mi nombre.
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 Ellos pues son tus siervos y tu pueblo, los cuales redimiste con tu fortaleza grande, y con tu mano fuerte.
“We are your servants. We are the people whom you brought here by your very great power [MTY, DOU]
11 Ruego, oh Jehová, sea ahora tu oído atento a la oración de tu siervo, y a la oración de tus siervos, que desean temer tu nombre; y da ahora buen suceso hoy a tu siervo: y dále gracia delante de aquel varón. Porque era yo el copero del rey.
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].
