Nehemiah 1
1 The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah. And it happened that, in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the capital city of Susa.2 And Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived, he and some men of Judah. And I questioned them about the Jews who had remained and were left behind from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.3 And they said to me: Those who have remained and have been left behind from the captivity, there in the province, are in great affliction and in disgrace. And the wall of Jerusalem has been broken apart, and its gates have been burned with fire.4 And when I had heard this manner of words, I sat down, and I wept and mourned for many days. I fasted and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.5 And I said: I beg you, O Lord, God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love you and who keep your commandments:6 may your ears be attentive, and may your eyes be open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you today, night and day, for the sons of Israel, your servants. And I am confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which they have sinned against you. We have sinned, I and my fathers house.7 We have been seduced by vanity. And we have not kept your commandments and ceremonies and judgments, which you have instructed to your servant Moses.8 Remember the word which you commanded to your servant Moses, saying: When you will have transgressed, I will disperse you among the nations.9 But if you will return to me, and keep my precepts, and do them, even if you will have been led away to the furthest reaches of the heavens, I will gather you from there, and I will lead you back to the place that I have chosen so that my name would dwell there.10 And these same are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great strength and by your powerful hand.11 I beg you, O Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who are willing to fear your name. And so, guide your servant today, and grant to him mercy before this man. For I was the cupbearer of the king.
Nehemiah 1
A Prayer of Nehemiah
1 s These are the words of Nehemiahs son of Hacaliah:
It so happened that in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year,t I was in Susat the citadel.
2 Hanani, who was one of my relatives,t along with some of the men from Judah, came to me,t and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.s
3 They said to me, “The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerablet adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!”t
4 When I heard these things I sat down abruptly,t crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.5 Then I said, “Please, O Lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenantt with those who love him and obeyt his commandments,6 may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committedt against you – both I myself and my familyt have sinned.7 We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.8 Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations.t9 But if you repentt and obeyt my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location,t I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.’10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand.
11 Please,t O Lord, listen attentivelyt to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respectt to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to met in the presence of this man.”
Nowt I was cupbearer for the king.