Translation commentary on Nehemiah 5:19

Remember for my good … all that I have done for this people: For Remember see the comments at Neh 1.8. This is the first of several times that Nehemiah prayed to God to Remember to his credit the good things he had done for his people (see Neh 13.14, 22, 31). In this context Nehemiah acted out of a religious motivation. He believed that God expected him to act for the good of his people and that God would reward him for it. New International Version says “Remember me with favor … for all I have done for these people” (similarly Bible en français courant), while Revised English Bible translates “… remember me favourably for all that I have done for this people.” Contemporary English Version renders it in ordinary language: “I pray that God will bless me for everything I have done for my people.”

O my God: See the comments at Ezra 9.6.

This short prayer interrupts the historical account that is being given. It may be necessary in some languages to indicate that this is a prayer. Good News Translation has done this by beginning with the phrase “I pray you.” In other languages it will be necessary to be very explicit and add an introductory clause, such as “Then I prayed to God in these words.” Contemporary English Version changes the prayer into an indirect quotation, but it is preferable to retain the directness of the original quotation. Revised English Bible uses an exclamation mark as final punctuation for the prayer. Translators should use the appropriate punctuation in their writing style.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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