The Book of
Nehemiah
1
1 The
words of Nehemiah
the son of
Hacaliah.
Now in the
month Chislev, in
the twentieth year,
as I was
in Susa the
palace,
2 Hanani,
one of my brothers,
came, he
and certain men out
of Judah; and
I asked them
about the Jews
who had escaped,
who were left
of the captivity,
and concerning
Jerusalem.
3 They said
to me, “The
remnant who are
left of the
captivity there in
the province are
in great
affliction and
reproach. The wall
of Jerusalem is
also broken down,
and its gates
are burned with
fire.”
4 When
I heard these
words, I sat
down and wept,
and mourned several
days; and I
fasted and prayed
before the God
of heaven,
5 and said, “I
beg you, LORD,
the God of
heaven, the great
and awesome God
who keeps covenant
and loving kindness
with those who
love him and
keep his
commandments,
6 let
your ear now
be attentive and
your eyes open,
that you may
listen to the
prayer of your
servant which I
pray before you
at this time,
day and night,
for the children
of Israel your
servants, while I
confess the sins
of the children
of Israel which
we have sinned
against you. Yes,
I and my
father’s house
have sinned.
7 We have dealt
very corruptly
against you, and
have not kept
the commandments,
nor the statutes,
nor the ordinances,
which you
commanded your
servant Moses.
8 “Remember,
I beg you,
the word that
you commanded your
servant Moses,
saying, ‘If you
trespass, I will
scatter you among
the peoples;
9 but
if you return
to me, and
keep my
commandments and
do them, though
your outcasts were
in the uttermost
part of the
heavens, yet I
will gather them
from there, and
will bring them
to the place
that I have chosen,
to cause my
name to dwell
there.’
10 “Now
these are your
servants and your
people, whom you
have redeemed by
your great power
and by your
strong hand.
11 Lord,
I beg you,
let your ear be
attentive now to
the prayer of
your servant, and
to the prayer
of your servants
who delight to
fear your name;
and please prosper
your servant today,
and grant him
mercy in the
sight of this
man.”
Now I was cup
bearer to the king.