1-2Denne beretning er skrevet af Nehemias, søn af Hakalja. Jeg arbejdede som mundskænk for kong Artaxerxes af Persien i det kongelige palads i Susa. I kislev[1] måned i hans 20. regeringsår fik jeg besøg af en af mine slægtninge ved navn Hanani og nogle andre mænd, der lige var kommet fra Juda. Jeg spurgte dem, hvordan det gik med alle de judæere, der var vendt tilbage fra eksilet, og hvordan det stod til i Jerusalem.3„Det går rigtig dårligt,” svarede de. „Folk lever i stor nød og elendighed. Jerusalems mur ligger stadig i ruiner, og de nedbrændte porte er ikke blevet istandsat.”4Da jeg hørte det, satte jeg mig ned og græd og sørgede i flere dage, mens jeg fastede og bad til Himlens Gud.5„Herre, du store og almægtige Gud!” bad jeg. „Vi ved, at du er en Gud, der holder dine pagtsløfter og er trofast over for dem, der elsker dig og adlyder dine befalinger.6-7Hør nu din tjeners bøn, lyt til, hvad jeg har på hjerte. Se i nåde til mig, mens jeg dag og nat går i forbøn for dit folk Israel! Jeg erkender, at Israels folk har syndet imod dig, ja også jeg og min familie har syndet ved ikke at adlyde de befalinger, love og forskrifter, som du gav os gennem din tjener Moses.8Opfyld nu det løfte du i sin tid gav Moses. Du sagde godt nok, at hvis vi var troløse over for dig, ville du sprede os blandt folkene.9Men du sagde også, at hvis vi erkendte vores synder og lovede at adlyde dine befalinger, ville du føre os tilbage til Jerusalem—det sted, du har udvalgt til din bolig—om du så skulle hente os fra verdens fjerneste afkroge.10Herre, vi er dine tjenere—det folk, du befriede ved din vældige magt.11Hør nu min bøn! Lyt til dem, som ønsker at ære dig! Vær med mig, når jeg træder frem for kongen for at bede ham gøre mig en tjeneste. Gør ham venligt stemt over for min anmodning.”
1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, (Neh 2,1; Neh 10,1; Ester 1,2; Ester 1,5; Ester 2,3; Ester 2,5; Zak 7,1)2that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. (Neh 7,2)3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” (2.Kong 25,10; Neh 2,3; Neh 2,13; Neh 2,17)
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Ez 9,3; Neh 2,4)5And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, (5.Mos 7,21; Neh 9,32; Dan 9,4)6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. (1.Kong 8,29; 2.Krøn 6,40; Ez 10,1; Salm 106,6; Dan 9,18; Dan 9,20)7We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. (5.Mos 28,15; Dan 9,5)8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, (3.Mos 26,33; 5.Mos 4,25; 5.Mos 28,64)9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ (3.Mos 26,39; 5.Mos 4,29; 5.Mos 12,5; 5.Mos 30,2; 5.Mos 30,4)10They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. (5.Mos 9,29)11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. (Neh 1,6; Neh 2,1)