尼希米記 1
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
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[a]，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。
Footnotes
- 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。
Nehemiah 1
New Catholic Bible
The Deeds of Nehemiah
Chapter 1
Nehemiah’s Vocation. 1 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah.
In the month of Kislev,[a] in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews—those who had survived the captivity—and about Jerusalem.
3 They replied: “Those who survived the captivity and remained in the province are in dire distress and badly demoralized. The wall of Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4 Upon hearing this, I sat down and wept,[b] mourning for several days while fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 Then I offered this prayer: “O Lord, God of heaven, you are a great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of steadfast love with those who love him and obey his commandments. 6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to heed the prayer of your servant that I now offer to you day and night in your presence on behalf of your servants, the people of Israel.
“I confess the sins that your servants, the Israelites, have committed against you. I and my family are equally guilty in this regard. 7 We have offended you grievously and failed to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the laws you enjoined on your servant Moses.
8 “Do not fail to remember the promise you made to your servant Moses when you said: ‘If you are unfaithful, I shall scatter you among the nations. 9 However, if you return to me and obey my commandments and fulfill them, then I will gather even those among you who have been scattered to the farthest ends of the world and bring you back to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.’
10 “These are your servants, your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the humble prayer of your servants who take delight in revering your name. Grant that your servant will be given success this day and win this man’s compassion”—for at that time I was cupbearer to the king.[c]
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 1:1 Month of Kislev: November–December. The twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes I was 445 B.C. Susa was one of the capitals used by the Persian kings. The others were Ecbatana, Persepolis, and Babylon.
- Nehemiah 1:4 Sat down and wept: there was much for Nehemiah to be saddened by in Jerusalem. Walls represented safety for the people against intruders and a sense of independence and strength. The Jews needed to rebuild to gain a sense of control but were prevented from doing so by a previous edict (Ezr 4:6-23).
- Nehemiah 1:11 Cupbearer to the king: one of the highest ranks at the royal court. It was Nehemiah’s job to secure the safety and quality of the king’s food and allowed him easy access to share his concerns about the Jews with the king.
