1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.3 They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.5 Then I said: "LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you.7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king.
1 Verba Nehemi filii Helchi. Et factum est in mense Casleu, anno vigesimo, et ego eram in Susis castro. 2 Et venit Hanani, unus de fratribus meis, ipse et viri ex Juda : et interrogavi eos de Judis qui remanserant, et supererant de captivitate, et Jerusalem. 3 Et dixerunt mihi : Qui remanserunt, et relicti sunt de captivitate ibi in provincia, in afflictione magna sunt, et in opprobrio : et murus Jerusalem dissipatus est, et port ejus combust sunt igni. 4 Cumque audissem verba hujuscemodi, sedi, et flevi, et luxi diebus multis : jejunabam, et orabam ante faciem Dei cli : 5 et dixi : Quso, Domine Deus cli fortis, magne atque terribilis, qui custodis pactum et misericordiam cum his qui te diligunt, et custodiunt mandata tua : 6 fiant aures tu auscultantes, et oculi tui aperti, ut audias orationem servi tui, quam ego oro coram te hodie nocte et die pro filiis Isral servis tuis : et confiteor pro peccatis filiorum Isral, quibus peccaverunt tibi : ego et domus patris mei peccavimus, 7 vanitate seducti sumus, et non custodivimus mandatum tuum, et cremonias, et judicia qu prcepisti Moysi famulo tuo. 8 Memento verbi quod mandasti Moysi servo tuo, dicens : Cum transgressi fueritis, ego dispergam vos in populos : 9 et si revertamini ad me, et custodiatis prcepta mea, et faciatis ea : etiamsi abducti fueritis ad extrema cli, inde congregabo vos, et reducam in locum quem elegi ut habitaret nomen meum ibi. 10 Et ipsi servi tui, et populus tuus, quos redemisti in fortitudine tua magna, et in manu tua valida. 11 Obsecro, Domine, sit auris tua attendens ad orationem servi tui, et ad orationem servorum tuorum, qui volunt timere nomen tuum : et dirige servum tuum hodie, et da ei misericordiam ante virum hunc. Ego enim eram pincerna regis.