Nehemiah 1
1 THE WORDS or story of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: Now in the month of Chislev in the twentieth year [of the Persian king], as I was in the castle of Shushan,2 Hanani, one of my kinsmen, came with certain men from Judah, and I asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped exile, and about Jerusalem.3 And they said to me, The remnant there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its [fortified] gates are destroyed by fire.4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept and mourned for days and fasted and prayed [constantly] before the God of heaven,5 And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, Who keeps covenant, loving-kindness, and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments,6 Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to listen to the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You day and night for the Israelites, Your servants, confessing the sins of the Israelites which we have sinned against You. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember [earnestly] what You commanded Your servant Moses: If you transgress and are unfaithful, I will scatter you abroad among the nations; 9 But if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the farthest part of the heavens [the expanse of outer space], yet will I gather them from there and will bring them to the place in which I have chosen to set My Name. 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.11 O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere and fear Your name (Your nature and attributes); and prosper, I pray You, Your servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was cupbearer to 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.