1 Nechemijas, Hachaljas dēla, vārdi. Tas notika ķēniņa Artakserksa valdīšanas divdesmitā gada kisleva mēnesi, kad es biju Sūsu pilī un
2 Kad atnāca Hananijs, viens no maniem brāļiem, kopā ar kādiem vīriem no Jūdas; es tad prasīju viņiem par jūdiem, kas bija izglābušies un bija palikuši no gūsta pāri, un par Jeruzālemi.
3 Un viņi sacīja man: „Pāri palikušie, kas ir paglābušies no gūsta tanī zemē, ir lielā nelaimē un kaunā; Jeruzālemes mūid ir noplēsti, tās vārti ir sadedzināti ugunī.“
4 Kad es dzirdēju šīs ziņas, es sēdēju un raudāju un sēroju vairākas dienas; es arī nemitējos gavēt un griezties ar savām lūgšanām pie debesu Dieva.
5 Un es sacīju: „Ak, Kungs, debesu Dievs, lielais un bijājamais Dievs, kas sargā derību un parāda žēlastību tiem, kufi mīl Tevi un pilda tavas pavēles:
6 Lai tava auss kļūst uzmanīga, un tavas acis atvērtas, lai dzirdētu sava kalpa lūgšanu, ar kādu es tagad griežos pie Tevis dienu un nakti par Israēla bērniem, taviem kalpiem, izsūdzēdams Israēla bērnu grēkus, ko mēs esam grēkojuši pret Tevi. Ari es un mana tēva dzimts, mēs esam grēkojuši.
7 Mēs esam rīkojušies ļoti nekrietni pret Tevi, jo neesam sekojuši tavām pavēlēm, likumiem un priekšrakstiem, ko Tu esi pavēlējis savam kalpam Mozum.
8 Atceries jel vārdu, ko Tu liki pie sirds savam kalpam Mozum, sacīdams: Ja jūs kļūsit neuzticīgi, Es jūs izkaisīšu starp tautām;
9 Bet ja jūs atgriezīsities pie Manis un turēsit manas pavēles un izpildīsit tās, tad, kaut ari no jūsu vidus izdzītie būtu debess galā, tomēr Es viņus sapulcināšu no turienes un atvedīšu viņus uz to vietu, ko esmu izvēlējies, lai tur liktu dzīvot savam vārdam!
10 Tie taču ir tavi kalpi un tava tauta, kurus Tu esi atbrīvojis ar savu lielo spēku un savas rokas stiprumu!
11 Ak Kungs, lai jel tava auss kļūst uzmanīga uz tava kalpa lūgšanu, kam ir prieks bīties tavu vārdu, un dod jel panākumus tavam kalpam šodien un piešķir viņam labvēlību tā vīra priekšā!“ Proti, es biju dzērienu devējs ķēniņam.
1 This is the account of what Nehemiah son of Hacaliah accomplished.
Nehemiah's Concern for Jerusalem
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, I, Nehemiah, was in Susa, the capital city. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived from Judah with another group, and I asked them about Jerusalem and about the other Jews who had returned from exile in Babylonia. 3 They told me that those who had survived and were back in the homeland were in great difficulty and that the foreigners who lived nearby looked down on them. They also told me that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down and that the gates had not been restored since the time they were burned. 4 When I heard all this, I sat down and wept.
For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, 5 “Lord God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command. 6 Look at me, Lord, and hear my prayer, as I pray day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess that we, the people of Israel, have sinned. My ancestors and I have sinned. 7 We have acted wickedly against you and have not done what you commanded. We have not kept the laws which you gave us through Moses, your servant. 8 Remember now what you told Moses: ‘If you people of Israel are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the other nations. 9 But then if you turn back to me and do what I have commanded you, I will bring you back to the place where I have chosen to be worshiped, even though you are scattered to the ends of the earth.’
10 “Lord, these are your servants, your own people. You rescued them by your great power and strength. 11 Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to honor you. Give me success today and make the emperor merciful to me.”
In those days I was the emperor's wine steward.
