1 Palavras de Neemias, filho de Helquias. No mês de Casleu do vigésimo ano, encontrando-me eu em Susa, no palácio,2 eis que chegaram de Judá, Hanani, um de meus irmãos, com alguns companheiros. Perguntei-lhes pelos judeus libertados que tinham escapado ao cativeiro e a respeito de Jerusalém.3 Os que escaparam, disseram-me eles, os que voltaram do cativeiro, estão lá na província, numa grande miséria e numa situação humilhante; os muros de Jerusalém estão em ruínas e suas portas foram incendiadas.4 Ouvindo tais palavras, sentei-me para chorar e fiquei vários dias desconsolado; jejuei e orei diante do Deus do céu,5 dizendo: Ah! Senhor, Deus do céu, Deus grande e terrível, vós que permaneceis fiel à vossa aliança e exerceis a misericórdia para com aqueles que vos amam e observam os vossos mandamentos,6 que vossos ouvidos estejam atentos e vossos olhos se abram para ouvirdes a prece que eu, vosso servo, estou fazendo na vossa presença, de noite e de dia, pelos filhos de Israel, vossos servos, confessando os pecados que nós, os israelitas, cometemos contra vós. Porque eu mesmo e a casa de meu pai temos pecado.7 Nós vos ofendemos gravemente e não observamos as leis, mandamentos e preceitos que destes a Moisés, vosso servo.8 Lembrai-vos da palavra que destes ao vosso servo Moisés, dizendo: se transgredirdes meus preceitos, eu vos dispersarei entre as nações;9 mas, se voltardes a mim, se observardes meus mandamentos e os praticardes, mesmo que estejais deportados às extremidades do céu, eu vos reunirei ali e vos farei retornar ao lugar que escolhi para estabelecer nele a morada de meu nome.10 Eles são vossos servos, esse mesmo povo que libertastes com o poder e a força de vossa mão.11 Ah! Senhor, prestai ouvidos à oração deste vosso servo e à oração dos vossos servos que veneram o vosso nome. Dignai-vos hoje dar bom êxito ao vosso servo, e fazei-o ganhar o favor do rei. Eu era então copeiro do rei.

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Chachalyah. And it came to pass in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan, the capital,2 That there came Chanani, one of my brethren, himself with certain men of Judah: and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great misery and in disgrace; and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and her gates are burnt with fire.4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned some days, and I was fasting, and praying before the God of heaven.5 And I said, I beseech thee, O Lord the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth the covenant and kindness for those that love him and for those that keep his commandments:6 Let thy ear now be attentive, and thy eyes be open, I entreat thee, to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I am praying this day before thee, by day and by night, in behalf of the children of Israel thy servants, and as I confess for the sins of the children of Israel, with which we have sinned against thee: yea, I also and my father’s house have sinned.7 We have dealt very corruptly toward thee: and we have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word with which thou didst charge Moses thy servant, saying, If ye become truly unfaithful, I will indeed scatter you among the nations.9 But if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them: then though your outcasts should be at the utmost parts of heaven, from there will I gather them, and I will bring them unto the place which I have chosen to let my name dwell there.10 And they are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.11 I beseech thee, O Lord, do let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who are desirous to fear thy name; and grant success, I pray thee, to thy servant this day, and let him find mercy in the sight of this man ––But I was butler by the king.