1 哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的言行录： 亚达薛西王二十年基斯流月， 我在书珊宫中， 2 我的一位兄弟哈拿尼和几个人一起从犹大来到； 我询问他们关于那些从被掳逃脱的犹大余民和关于耶路撒冷的景况。 3 他们对我说： "那些从被掳剩下的余民， 在犹大省那里遭遇患难， 受到凌辱。耶路撒冷的城墙倒塌， 城门也被火烧毁。" 4 我听见了这些事， 就坐下哭泣， 悲伤了好几天， 在天上的 神面前禁食祷告， 5 说： "耶和华天上的 神， 伟大可畏的 神啊， 你向那些爱你， 遵守你诫命的人， 守约施慈爱。 6 求你侧着耳， 睁着眼的， 垂听你仆人的祷告， 我今天在你面前昼夜为着你的仆人以色列人祷告， 承认以色列人所犯的罪， 就是我与我父的家向你所犯的罪。 7 我们故意行极大的恶事得罪你， 没有遵守你吩咐你仆人摩西的诫命、律例和典章。 8 求你记念你吩咐你仆人摩西的话， 说： ‘你们若是不忠， 我就把你们分散在万民中。 9 但如果你们回心转意归向我， 谨守遵行我的诫命， 即使在你们被赶逐的天边， 我也必从那里把他们招聚回来， 带他们到我选择给我的名居住的地方那里去。’ 10 这些都是你的仆人， 你的子民， 是你用你的大能和你强而有力的手所救赎的。 11 主啊， 求你留意听你仆人的祷告， 听那些喜爱敬畏你名的仆人的祷告； 求你使你的仆人今天顺利， 使他在这人面前蒙怜悯。"那时我是王的酒政。

1 Words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it cometh to pass, in the month of Chisleu, the twentieth year, and I have been in Shushan the palace,2 and come in doth Hanani, one of my brethren, he and men of Judah, and I ask them concerning the Jews, the escaped part that have been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;3 and they say to me, `Those left, who have been left of the captivity there in the province, [are] in great evil, and in reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burnt with fire.`4 And it cometh to pass, at my hearing these words, I have sat down, and I weep and mourn [for] days, and I am fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.5 And I say, `I beseech thee, O Jehovah, God of the heavens, God, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and kindness for those loving Him, and for those keeping His commands,6 let Thine ear be, I pray Thee, attentive, and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I am praying before Thee to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Thy servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;7 we have acted very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments, that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant.8 `Remember, I pray Thee, the word that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant, saying, Ye -- ye trespass -- I scatter you among peoples;9 and ye have turned back unto Me, and kept My commands, and done them -- if your outcast is in the end of the heavens, thence I gather them, and have brought them in unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to tabernacle there.10 And they [are] Thy servants, and Thy people, whom Thou hast ransomed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong hand.11 `I beseech Thee, O Lord, let, I pray Thee, Thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto the prayer of Thy servants, those delighting to fear Thy Name; and give prosperity, I pray Thee, to Thy servant to-day, and give him for mercies before this man;` and I have been butler to the king.