Nehemiah 1

1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. It was in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the citadel.

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

3They said to me, "The survivors remaining from the captivity there in the province endure great distress and shame; the wall of Jerusalem stands breached, and its gates have burned in fire."

4So it was, when I carefully heard these matters, that I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

5I said, "Please, Yahweh, God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps 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, which I am praying before you today, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, as I confess the sins of the children 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, or the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.

8Please remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, "If you transgress, I will scatter you among the nations."

9If you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, even if 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 cause my name to dwell there.

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

11Please, Lord, let your ear now be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in fearing your name; please prosper your servant today and grant him mercy before this man, for I was cupbearer to the king.