Nehemiah 1

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS
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.	1 Palabras de Nehemías, hijo de Jacalías. En el mes de Quisleu, el vigésimo año de Artajerjes, mientras yo estaba en Susa, la ciudadela,
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.	2 llegó Jananí, uno de mis hermanos, con algunos hombres de Judá. Yo les pregunté por los judíos –el resto que había sobrevivido al cautiverio– y por Jerusalén.
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.”	3 Ellos me respondieron: «Los que han sobrevivido al cautiverio, allá en la provincia, soportan muchas penurias y humillaciones. Las murallas de Jerusalén están en ruinas y sus puertas han sido incendiadas».
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.	4 Al oír estas palabras, me senté a llorar, y estuve de duelo varios días, ayunando y orando ante el Dios del cielo.
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:	5 Entonces dije: «¡Ah, Señor, Dios del cielo! Tú eres el Dios grande y temible, que mantienes la alianza y eres fiel con aquellos que te aman y observan tus mandamientos.
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.	6 Que tus oídos estén atentos y tus ojos abiertos, para escuchar la plegaria de tu servidor, la que ahora yo te dirijo día y noche por los israelitas, tus servidores, confesando sus pecados, porque hemos pecado contra ti. ¡Sí, yo y la casa de mi padre hemos pecado!
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.	7 Nos hemos portado mal contigo, no hemos observado los mandamientos, los preceptos y las leyes que prescribiste a Moisés, tu servidor.
8 Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: ‘When you will have transgressed, I will disperse you among the nations.	8 Acuérdate, sin embargo, de la palabra que ordenaste pronunciar a Moisés, tu servidor: «Si ustedes son infieles, yo los dispersaré entre los pueblos.
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.’	9 Pero si se convierten a mí, si observan y practican mis mandamientos, aunque sus desterrados estén en los confines del cielo, yo los congregaré y los traeré al lugar que elegí para hacerlo morada de mi Nombre».
10 And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful hand.	10 ¡Ellos son tus servidores y tu pueblo, los que tú has rescatado con tu gran fuerza y tu brazo poderoso!
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.	11 ¡Ah, Señor! Que tus oídos estén atentos a la plegaria de tu servidor y a la plegaria de tus servidores, que se complacen en venerar tu Nombre. Permíteme lograr mi cometido y que sea bien recibido por el rey».