Nehemiah 1

1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the citadel,

2Hanani, one of my brothers, came—he and some men from Judah—and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who were left from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.

3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4And when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5And I said, “Please, O Yahweh, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love for those who love him and keep his commandments,”

6Please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am now praying before you day and night, for the sons of Israel, your servants, while confessing the sins of the sons of Israel that we have sinned against you. I and my father's house have sinned.

7We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.

8Please remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the peoples.’

9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are at the end of the heavens, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.

10But they are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

11Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and please give success to your servant today and grant him compassion before this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.