Nehemias 1
1 Nehemias's, Hakaljas Søns, Beretning. I Kislev Måned i det tyvende År, medens jeg var i Borgen i Susan,
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 kom Hanani, en af mine Brødre, sammen med nogle Mænd fra Juda. Og da jeg udspurgte dem om Jøderne, den Rest, der var undsluppet fra Fangenskabet, og om Jerusalem,
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 sagde de til mig: De tiloversblevne, de, som er tilbage fra Fangenskabet der i Landet, lever i stor Nød og Forsmædelse, og Jerusalems Mur er nedrevet og Portene opbrændt.
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 Da jeg hørte denne Tidende, satte jeg mig hen og græd og sørgede i flere Dage, og jeg fastede og bad for Himmelens Guds Åsyn,
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 idet jeg sagde: Ak, HERRE, Himmelens Gud, du store, frygtelige Gud, som tager Vare på Pagten og Miskundheden mod dem, der elsker dig og holder dine Bud!
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 Lad dog dit Øre være lydhørt og dit Øje åbent, så du hører din Tjeners Bøn, som jeg nu beder for dit Åsyn både Nat og Dag for dine Tjenere tsraeliterne, idet jeg bekender deres Synder, som vi også jeg og min Faders Hus har begået imod dig.
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 Såre ilde har vi handlet imod dig, og vi har ikke holdt de Bud, Anordninger og Lovbud, du pålagde din Tjener Moses.
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 Kom det Ord i Hu, som du pålagde din Tjener Moses: Dersom I er troløse, vil jeg adsplitte eder blandt Folkene;
Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: ‘When you will have transgressed, I will disperse you among the nations.
9 men hvis I omvender eder til mig og holder mine Bud og handler efter dem, så vil jeg, om eders fordrevne end er ved Himmelens Ende, dog samle dem derfra og bringe dem til det Sted, jeg udvalgte til Bolig for mit Navn.
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 De er jo dine Tjenere og dit Folk, som du udløste ved din store Kraft og din stærke Hånd.
And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful hand.
11 Ak, Herre, lad dit Øre være lydhørt for din Tjeners og dine Tjeneres Bøn, vi, som gerne vil frygte dit Navn, og lad det i Dag lykkes for din Tjener og lad ham finde Nåde for denne Mands Åsyn! Jeg var nemlig Mundskænk hos Kongen.
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.
