¹كلام نحميا بن حكليا. حدث في شهر كسلو في السنة العشرين بينما كنت في شوشن القصر

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,

²انه جاء حناني واحد من اخوتي هو ورجال من يهوذا فسألتهم عن اليهود الذين نجوا الذين بقوا من السبي وعن اورشليم.

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.

³فقالوا لي ان الباقين الذين بقوا من السبي هناك في البلاد هم في شر عظيم وعار. وسور اورشليم منهدم وابوابها محروقة بالنار.

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.”

⁴فلما سمعت هذا الكلام جلست وبكيت ونحت اياما وصمت وصلّيت امام اله السماء

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,

⁵وقلت ايها الرب اله السماء الاله العظيم المخوف الحافظ العهد والرحمة لمحبّيه وحافظي وصاياه

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:

⁶لتكن اذنك مصغية وعيناك مفتوحتين لتسمع صلاة عبدك الذي يصلّي اليك الآن نهارا وليلا لاجل بني اسرائيل عبيدك ويعترف بخطايا بني اسرائيل التي اخطأنا بها اليك فاني انا وبيت ابي قد اخطأنا.

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.

⁷لقد افسدنا امامك ولم نحفظ الوصايا والفرائض والاحكام التي أمرت بها موسى عبدك.

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.

⁸اذكر الكلام الذي امرت به موسى عبدك قائلا ان خنتم فاني افرقكم في الشعوب

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;

⁹وان رجعتم اليّ وحفظتم وصاياي وعملتموها ان كان المنفيون منكم في اقصاء السموات فمن هناك اجمعهم وآتي بهم الى المكان الذي اخترت لاسكان اسمي فيه.

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.’

¹⁰فهم عبيدك وشعبك الذي افتديت بقوتك العظيمة ويدك الشديدة.

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

¹¹يا سيد لتكن اذنك مصغية الى صلاة عبدك وصلاة عبيدك الذين يريدون مخافة اسمك. واعط النجاح اليوم لعبدك وامنحه رحمة امام هذا الرجل. لاني كنت ساقيا للملك

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.