Nehemiah’s prayer
1The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2Hanani, 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.
3They 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.’
4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5Then 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, 6let 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. 7We have acted very wickedly towards 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, 9but 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. 11Lord, 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 favour in the presence of this man.’
I was cupbearer to the king.
尼希米的禱告
1以下是哈迦利亞的兒子尼希米的記述。
波斯王亞達薛西二十年基斯流月1·1 「基斯流月」即希伯來曆的九月，陽曆是十一月中旬到十二月中旬。，我在書珊城裡。 2從猶大來了我的一個兄弟哈拿尼和一些人，我問他們有關從流亡之地歸回的猶太餘民和耶路撒冷的情況。 3他們回答說：「那些從流亡之地歸回猶大省的人深陷苦難，飽受凌辱。耶路撒冷的城牆已經倒塌，城門也被燒毀。」
4我一聽見這消息，就坐下痛哭，悲傷了好幾天。我在天上的上帝面前禁食禱告，說：
5「天上的上帝耶和華啊，你是偉大而可畏的上帝，你向愛你、守你誡命的人守約，施慈愛。 6僕人在你面前晝夜為你的眾僕人以色列民祈禱，求你睜眼察看，側耳傾聽。我承認以色列人向你所犯的罪，以及我和我的家族所犯的罪。 7我們行事敗壞，沒有遵守你賜給你僕人摩西的誡命、律例和典章。 8求你顧念你對你僕人摩西所說的話，『如果你們不忠，我必把你們驅散到列邦中。 9但如果你們轉向我，謹遵我的誡命，即使你們流落天涯，我也必從那裡把你們召集到我選為我名所在之地。』 10我們是你的僕人、你的子民，是你用大能大力救贖的。 11主啊，求你側耳聽你僕人的禱告，垂聽那些喜愛敬畏你名的眾僕人的祈求，使你僕人今天亨通，在王面前蒙恩。」
我是王的侍酒總管。
