¹耶路撒冷的慘況哈迦利亞的兒子尼希米的言行錄：亞達薛西王二十年基斯流月，我在書珊宮中，

¹The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

²我的一位兄弟哈拿尼和幾個人一起從猶大來到；我詢問他們關於那些從被擄逃脫的猶大餘民和關於耶路撒冷的景況。

²that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

³他們對我說：“那些從被擄剩下的餘民，在猶大省那裡遭遇患難，受到凌辱。耶路撒冷的城牆倒塌，城門也被火燒毀。”

³They 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 also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

⁴尼希米為耶路撒冷禁食禱告我聽見了這些事，就坐下哭泣，悲傷了好幾天，在天上的　神面前禁食禱告，

⁴It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “Elohim.” of heaven,

⁵說：“耶和華天上的　神，偉大可畏的　神啊，你向那些愛你，遵守你誡命的人，守約施慈愛。

⁵and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations. 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求你側著耳，睜著眼的，垂聽你僕人的禱告，我今天在你面前晝夜為著你的僕人以色列人禱告，承認以色列人所犯的罪，就是我與我父的家向你所犯的罪。

⁶Let 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我們故意行極大的惡事得罪你，沒有遵守你吩咐你僕人摩西的誡命、律例和典章。

⁷We 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求你記念你吩咐你僕人摩西的話，說：‘你們若是不忠，我就把你們分散在萬民中。

⁸“Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;

⁹但如果你們回心轉意歸向我，謹守遵行我的誡命，即使在你們被趕逐的天邊，我也必從那裡把他們招聚回來，帶他們到我選擇給我的名居住的地方那裡去。’

⁹but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’

¹⁰這些都是你的僕人，你的子民，是你用你的大能和你強而有力的手所救贖的。

¹⁰“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.

¹¹主啊，求你留意聽你僕人的禱告，聽那些喜愛敬畏你名的僕人的禱告；求你使你的僕人今天順利，使他在這人面前蒙憐憫。”那時我是王的酒政。

¹¹ Lord The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.” , 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 this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.