Nehemiah 1

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. It happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year,while I was in the citadel of Susa,	1 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. And it happened that, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the capital city of Susa.
2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews --those who had escaped and those who survived from the captivity -- and about Jerusalem.	2 And Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived, he and some men of Judah. And I questioned them about the Jews who had remained and were left behind from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.
3 They replied, 'The survivors remaining there in the province since the captivity are in a very bad anddemoralised condition: the wal s of Jerusalem are in ruins and its gates have been burnt down.'	3 And they said to me: “Those who have remained and have been left behind from the captivity, there in the province, are in great affliction and in disgrace. And the wall of Jerusalem has been broken apart, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 On hearing this I sat down and wept; for some days I mourned, fasting and praying before the God ofheaven.	4 And when I had heard this manner of words, I sat down, and I wept and mourned for many days. I fasted and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.
5 I said, 'Yahweh, God of heaven -- the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps a covenant of faithfullove with those who love him and obey his commandments-	5 And I said: “I beg you, O Lord, God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love you and who keep your commandments:
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to listen to your servant's prayer, which I now offer to youday and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I admit the sins of the Israelites, which we havecommitted against you. Both I and my father's House have sinned;	6 may your ears be attentive, and may your eyes be open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, night and day, for the sons of Israel, your servants. And I am confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which they have sinned against you. We have sinned, I and my father’s house.
7 we have acted very wickedly towards you by not keeping the commandments, laws and rulings whichyou enjoined on your servant Moses.	7 We have been seduced by vanity. And we have not kept your commandments and ceremonies and judgments, which you have instructed to your servant Moses.
8 Remember, I beg you, the promise which you solemnly made to your servant Moses, "If you areunfaithful, I shal scatter you among the peoples;	8 Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: ‘When you will have transgressed, I will disperse you among the nations.
9 but if you come back to me and keep my commandments and practise them, even though those whohave been banished are at the very sky's end, I shal gather them from there and bring them back to the placewhich I have chosen as a dwel ing-place for my name."	9 But if you will return to me, and keep my precepts, and do them, even if you will have been led away to the furthest reaches of the heavens, I will gather you from there, and I will lead you back to the place that I have chosen so that my name would dwell there.’
10 Since they are your servants, your people, whom you have redeemed with your mighty power andstrong hand,	10 And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful hand.
11 O Lord, let your ear now be attentive to your servant's prayer and to the prayer of your servants whowant to revere your name. I beg you let your servant be successful today and win this man's compassion.' At thetime I was cupbearer to the king.	11 I beg you, O Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who are willing to fear your name. And so, guide your servant today, and grant to him mercy before this man.” For I was the cupbearer of the king.