1 The dabaray (words) of Nachamayah (Nehemiah) the ban (son) of Chakalayah (Hacaliah). Now it happened in the chadash (month) Kasalaw (Chislev), in the isharayam (twenty) shanah (year), as I was in Shawashan (Shushan) the bayarah (palace),
2 That Chananay (Hanani), achad (one) of my ach (brother/kinsman), bawaa (bring), he and achad (one) men out of Yahawadah (Yahawadah / Judah); and I shaal (asked) them concerning the Yahawaday (Jews) who had palayatah (escaped), who were shaar (left) of the shabay (captivity), and concerning Yarawashalam (Yarawashalam / Jerusalem).
3 They amar (said) to me, “The shaar (remnant) who are shaar (left) of the shabay (captivity) there in the madayanah (province) are in gadawal (very great/important/mighty) rai (affliction) and charapah (reproach). The chawamah (wall) of Yarawashalam (Yarawashalam / Jerusalem) also is paratz (broken) down, and its shair (gates) are yatzath (burned) with ash (fire).”
4 It happened, when I shamai (hearken / hear) these dabarayam (words), that I yashab (inhabit/dwell) down and bakah (wept), and abal (mourned) certain yamayam (days); and I tzawam (fasted) and palal (prayed) panayam (face) the Alahayam () of shamayam (Shamayam / Heavens),
5 And amar (spoke), “I beg you, Yahawah (), the Alahayam () of shamayam (Shamayam / Heavens), the gadawal (very great/important/mighty) and awesome Al, who shamaray (keeps) barayath (covenant) and loving chasad (grace) with those who ahab (love) him and shamar (keep/guard) his matzawah (commandments):
6 Let your azan (ear) now be qashab (attentive), and your iyan (eye) pathach (open), that you may shamai (hearken / hear) to the thapalah (prayer) of your ibad (servant), which I palal (pray) panayam (face) you at this yawam (day), yawamam (by day) and layal (night), for the banay (my son) of Yashar-Al (Israel) your ibad (servant) while I yadah (confess) the chataawath (sins) of the banay (my son) of Yashar-Al (Israel), which we have chataa (sinned) against you. Yes, I and my ab (father) bayath (house) have chataa (sinned).
7 We have dealt very chabal (corruptly) against you, and have not shamar (keep/guard) the matzawath (commandment), nor the chaqayam (statutes), nor the mashapatayam (ordinances), which you tzawah (commanded) your ibad (servant) Mashah (Moses).
8 “Zakar (remember), I beg you, the dabar (word / matter) that you tzawah (commanded) your ibad (servant) Mashah (Moses), amar (said), ‘If you mail (top/above), I will pawatz (scatter) you abroad among the imayam (peoples);
9 But if you shawab (turn) to me, and shamar (keep/guard) my matzawah (commandments) and ishah (make) them, though your nadach (outcasts) were in the uttermost part of the shamayam (Shamayam / Heavens), yet will I qabatz (gather) them from there, and will bawaa (bring) them to the maqawam (place) that I have bachar (chosen), to cause my sham (name) to shakan (place) there.’
10 “Now these are your ibad (servant) and your im (nation / people), whom you have padah (redeemed) by your gadawal (very great/important/mighty) kach (strength / mighty / power), and by your chazaq (strong) yad (hand).
11 Adanay (), I beg you, let your azan (ear) be qashab (attentive) now to the thapalah (prayer) of your ibad (servant), and to the thapalah (prayer) of your ibad (servant), who chapatz (delight) to yaraa (fear / be afraid) your sham (name); and please tzalach (prosper) your ibad (servant) this yawam (day), and nathan (give) him racham (show mercy / love) in the panayam (face) of this ayash (man / husband).” Now I was cup bearer to the malak (king).