The words of Neĥemya the son of Ḥakhalya. And it came to pass in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the capital,

The words [written] by Nechemiah the son of Chachalyah: And it was in the month of Kislev, the twentieth year [of the reign of Artachshast (Darius)], and I was in Shushan, the capital city.

that Ḥanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men of Yehuda; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Yerushalayim.

And Chanani, one of my friends, he and [other] men came from Judah, and I inquired of them about the remnant of the Jews, who were left [in Jerusalem] from the [Babylonian] captivity, and about Jerusalem.

And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province suffer much hardship and insult: and the wall of Yerushalayim is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.

And they answered me [(in the order of my inquiries)]: The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the land are in dire straits and in shame. And the wall of Jerusalem is breached, and its gates burnt in fire [(the Jews having restored only the Temple, but not the city walls)].

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and I fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

And it was, when I heard these words, I sat and wept, and I mourned for [several] days, and I fasted and prayed before the G-d of Heaven.

and said, I pray thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, who keeps covenant and troth to those who love him and observe his commandments:

And I said: I beseech You, O L-rd, G d of heaven, the great and awesome G d [viz. Daniel 9:4], keeper of the covenant and lovingkindness to His lovers and to the keepers of His mitzvoth.

let Thy ear now be attentive, and Thy eyes open, that Thou mayst hear the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee now day and night, for the children of Yisra᾽el Thy servants, and I will confess the sins of the children of Yisra᾽el which we have sinned against Thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.

May Your ear be inclined and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You this day, day and night, for the children of Israel, Your servants; and (I) make confession for the sins which the children of Israel have sinned against You, and (which) I and my father's house have sinned.

We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, or the statutes, or the judgments, which Thou didst command Thy servant Moshe.

We have acted corruptly against You, and we have not kept the mitzvoth and the statutes and the judgments which You commanded to Moses Your servant.

Remember, I pray Thee, the word that Thou didst command Thy servant Moshe, saying, If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

Remember, now, Your charge to Moses Your servant: (If) you are faithless, I will spread you among the peoples,

but if you turn to me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though your outcasts be at the utmost parts of heaven, from there will I gather them, and I will bring them to the place which I have chosen to set my name there.

but if you return to Me, and keep My mitzvoth and do them, (even) if your cast-off ones be in the end of the heavens, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place wherein I have chosen to repose My name. [(viz. Deuteronomy 30:4)].

Now these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong hand.

And they are Your servants and Your people that You have redeemed with Your great strength and Your strong hand.

O Lord, I pray Thee, let now Thy ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who delight to fear Thy name: and prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

I beseech you, O L-rd, let Your ear be inclined to the prayer of Your servant [(himself)] and to the prayer of Your servants [(Israel)], who desire to fear Your name. And prosper, I pray You, Your servant this day, and render him [(an object of)] compassion before this man [(Darius)]. (And I was the king's cupbearer.)