4 Then, after hearing these words, for some days I gave myself up to weeping and sorrow, seated on the earth; and taking no food I made prayer to the God of heaven,

5 And said, O Lord, the God of heaven, the great God, greatly to be feared, keeping faith and mercy with those who have love for him and are true to his laws:

6 Let your ear now take note and let your eyes be open, so that you may give ear to the prayer of your servant, which I make before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel, your servants, while I put before you the sins of the children of Israel, which we have done against you: truly, I and my father's people are sinners.

7 We have done great wrong against you, and have not kept the orders, the rules, and the decisions, which you gave to your servant Moses.

8 Keep in mind, O Lord, the order you gave your servant Moses, saying, If you do wrong I will send you wandering among the peoples:

9 But if you come back to me and keep my orders and do them, even if those of you who have been forced out are living in the farthest parts of heaven, I will get them from there, and take them back to the place marked out by me for the resting-place of my name.

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

11 O Lord, let your ear take note of the prayer of your servant, and of the prayers of your servants, who take delight in worshipping your name: give help, O Lord, to your servant this day, and let him have mercy in the eyes of this man. (Now I was the king's wine-servant.)

4 Ouvindo isto, sentei-me e chorei. Recusei comer durante vários dias e passei muito tempo orando ao Deus dos céus.

5 Ó Senhor Deus, clamei. Ó grande e tremendo Deus que te manténs fiel às tuas promessas, e que és bom e misericordioso para com os que te amam e obedecem!

6 Ouve a minha oração! Escuta cuidadosamente o que tenho para te dizer! Vê, peço, como oro noite e dia pelo teu povo de Israel. Confesso que pecámos contra ti. Sim, eu e o meu povo cometemos o grave pecado de não obedecer aos mandamentos que nos deste através do teu servo Moisés.

8 Lembra-te, peço-te, daquilo que disseste a Moisés: 'Se pecarem, espalhar-vos-ei entre as nações. Mas se se voltarem para mim e obedecerem às minhas leis, ainda que se encontrem exilados nos mais longíquos pontos da Terra, vos farei voltar para Jerusalém. Pois Jerusalém é o local que escolhi para me fazer representar.'

10 Somos teus servos, o povo que resgataste pelo teu grande poder.

11 Senhor, peço-te que ouças a minha oração! Atenta às orações dos que têm prazer em te honrar. Ajuda-me agora, que vou pedir ao rei um grande favor - faz com que no seu coração se incline a ser benévolo para comigo.(Nesse tempo eu era quem servia as bebidas ao rei.)