Nehemiah 1

1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel,

2that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

3And they said to me, 'The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province live there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.'

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

5And I said, 'No indeed, O Lord, the mighty, the great and the awesome God of heaven, who keeps the covenant and mercy for those who love Him and who keep His commandments.

6Let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel, Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we sinned against You. Both I and my father's house have sinned.

7We have departed from You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

8'Remember, I pray, the word You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, even if your dispersion be to the farthest part of heaven, yet I will gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.'

10'Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and Your strong hand.

11Rather, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper today, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.' (For I was cupbearer to the king.)