Nehemia 1:8-11

1:8 Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations. ¹  1:9 But if you repent ²  and obey ³  my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location, ⁴  I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.’ 1:10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand. 1:11 Please, ⁵  O Lord, listen attentively ⁶  to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect ⁷  to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me ⁸  in the presence of this man.”

Now ⁹  I was cupbearer for the king.

[1:8]  ¹ tn Heb “peoples.”

[1:9]  ² tn Heb “turn to me.”

[1:9]  ³ tn Heb “keep.” See the note on the word “obey” in Neh 1:5.

[1:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “at the end of the heavens.”

[1:11]  ⁵ tn The interjection אָנָּא (’anna’) is an emphatic term of entreaty: “please!” (BDB 58 s.v.; HALOT 69-70 s.v.). This term is normally reserved for pleas for mercy from God in life-and-death situations (2 Kgs 20:3 = Isa 38:3; Pss 116:4; 118:25; Jonah 1:14; 4:2) and for forgiveness of heinous sins that would result or have resulted in severe judgment from God (Exod 32:31; Dan 9:4; Neh 1:5, 11).

[1:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “let your ear be attentive.”

[1:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “fear.”

[1:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “grant compassion.” The words “to me” are supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness and style in English.

[1:11]  ⁹ tn The vav (ו) on וַאֲנִי (va’ani, “Now, I”) introduces a disjunctive parenthetical clause that provides background information to the reader.