Nehemiah 1

Distressing News

1 These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah:During the month of Chislev, in Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king, while I was in the fortress at Susa,2 one of my brothers, Hanani, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had survived captivity and about Jerusalem.

3 They told me, “Those who survived captivity are in the province. They are enduring serious troubles and being insulted. The wall of Jerusalem has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”

Nehemiah’s Prayer

4 When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I mourned for days. I continued to fast and pray to the God of heaven.

5 I said,
“Lord God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promiset and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments.6 Open your eyes, and pay close attention with your ears to what I, your servant, am praying. I am praying to you day and night about your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you as well as the sins that my father’s family and I have committed.7 We have done you a great wrong. We haven’t obeyed the commandments, laws, or regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.8 Please remember what you told us through your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations.9 But if you return to me and continue to obey my commandments, though your people may be driven to the most distant point on the horizon, I will come and get you from there and bring you to the place where I chose to put my name.’10 These are your servants and your people whom you have saved by your great power and your strong hand.

11 Lord, please pay attention to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to worship your name. Please give me success today and make this man, King Artaxerxes, show me compassion.”
I was cupbearert to the king at this time.

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.