以下的记载是哈迦利亚的儿子尼希米的事迹。[注解]　
　　尼希米关心耶路撒冷　
　　亚达薛西作波斯皇帝的第二十年基斯流月，我──尼希米住在波斯京城书珊。[注解]　我的兄弟哈拿尼跟一群人从犹大来到书珊城。我向他们打听从流亡巴比伦归回的犹太同胞和耶路撒冷的情形。[注解]　他们告诉我∶那些从流亡归回的难民正遭遇大困难，受到凌辱。他们又告诉我，耶路撒冷的城墙破损，城门被烧毁。[注解]　我听见这些事，就坐下，难过得流下泪来。
　　我悲伤了好几天，没有吃东西。我向上帝祷告说∶“上主──天上的上帝啊，你是至大可畏的；你向爱你并且遵守你诫命的人信守你的约。上主啊，我日夜为你的仆人以色列人民呼求，请眷顾我，听我的祷告！我承认我们以色列人犯了罪；我的祖先和我都犯了罪。我们恶意反抗你，没有遵行你的诫命，没有守住你藉你的仆人摩西颁布给我们的法律诫命。求你记得你曾经告诉过摩西∶‘你们以色列人若对我不忠，我要把你们分散到别的国家；但你们若回转到我这里来，遵行我的命令，我会带你们回来；即使你们被流放到天涯海角，我也会带你们回到这块我选择作为敬拜我的地方。’
　　“主啊，这些都是你的仆人，你自己的子民，是你曾用你的大能大力拯救过的人。求你垂听我的祷告，也垂听所有敬畏你的仆人的祷告。求你帮助我今天顺利成功，使皇上向我开恩。”
　　那段时期，我是皇上的司酒长。

　　This is the account of what Nehemiah son of Hacaliah accomplished.
　　Nehemiah's Concern for Jerusalem　
　　In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, I, Nehemiah, was in Susa, the capital city. Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived from Judah with another group, and I asked them about Jerusalem and about the other Jews who had returned from exile in Babylonia. [注解]　They told me that those who had survived and were back in the homeland were in great difficulty and that the foreigners who lived nearby looked down on them. They also told me that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down and that the gates had not been restored since the time they were burned. [注解]　When I heard all this, I sat down and wept.
　　For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, " LORD God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command. Look at me, LORD, and hear my prayer, as I pray day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess that we, the people of Israel, have sinned. My ancestors and I have sinned. We have acted wickedly against you and have not done what you commanded. We have not kept the laws which you gave us through Moses, your servant. Remember now what you told Moses: 'If you people of Israel are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the other nations. [注解]　But then if you turn back to me and do what I have commanded you, I will bring you back to the place where I have chosen to be worshiped, even though you are scattered to the ends of the earth.'[注解]　
　　"Lord, these are your servants, your own people. You rescued them by your great power and strength. Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to honor you. Give me success today and make the emperor merciful to me."
　　In those days I was the emperor's wine steward.