1:1 哈加里雅的儿子乃赫米雅的言行录：在第二十年「基色娄」月，我在稣撒禁城时，
The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. In the month Chislev of the twentieth year, I was in the citadel of Susa 1:2 有我的一个兄弟哈纳尼，和几个人由犹大上来，我问及他们，关于那些由充军回国的犹太遗民，和耶路撒冷的情形；
when Hanani, one of my brothers, came with other men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews, the remnant preserved after the captivity, and about Jerusalem, 1:3 他们回答我说：「由充军回国的那些遗民，在省里遭大难，受污辱；耶路撒冷城垣坍塌，城门为火焚毁。」
and they answered me: "The survivors of the captivity there in the province are in great distress and under reproach. Also, the wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been gutted with fire." 1:4 我一听说这些事，就坐下涕哭，悲痛了几天，同时也在上主天主前，禁食祈祷，
When I heard this report, I began to weep and continued mourning for several days; I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 1:5 说：「唉！上主，天上的天主！伟大可畏的天主！那对爱你和守你诫命的人，履行信约，施行慈爱的，
I prayed: "O LORD, God of heaven, great and awesome God, you who preserve your covenant of mercy toward those who love you and keep your commandments, 1:6 求你侧耳，求你睁眼，俯听你仆人的祈祷，即我现今在你面前，日夜为你的仆人以色列子民所行的祈祷。我承认以色列子民对你所犯的罪过，因为我和我父家都犯了罪。
may your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, to heed the prayer which I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night for your servants the Israelites, confessing the sins which we of Israel have committed against you, I and my father’s house included. 1:7 我们的确作恶得罪了你，没有遵守你吩咐你的仆人梅瑟，所立定的诫命、律令和典章。
Grievously have we offended you, not keeping the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which you committed to your servant Moses. 1:8 求你记忆你向你的仆人梅瑟所吩咐的话说：如果你们不忠实，我要将你们分散在万民之中；
But remember, I pray, the promise which you gave through Moses, your servant, when you said: ’should you prove faithless, I will scatter you among the nations; 1:9 但如果你们又回心归向我，遵守履行我的诫命，即便你们分散到天涯地角，我也要从那里，将你们聚集起来，领你们到我所选，为作我名居所的地方去。──
but should you return to me and carefully keep my commandments, even though your outcasts have been driven to the farthest corner of the world, I will gather them from there, and bring them back to the place which I have chosen as the dwelling place for my name.' 1:10 他们都是你的仆人，你的人民，是你用强力和大能的手，所拯救出来的。
They are your servants, your people, whom you freed by your great might and your strong hand. 1:11 我主，求你侧耳俯听你仆人的祈祷，倾听这些喜爱敬畏你名的仆人的祈祷！求你今天使你的仆人顺利，使他在那人前获得宠遇。」我当时是君王的酒政。
O Lord, may your ear be attentive to my prayer and that of all your willing servants who revere your name. Grant success to your servant this day, and let him find favor with this man"-for I was cupbearer to the king.