1The words1697 of Nehemiah5166 the son1121 of Hachaliah2446. And it came to pass in the month2320 Chisleu3691, in the twentieth6242 year8141, as I was in Shushan7800 the palace1002,
2That Hanani2607, one259 of my brethren251, came935, he and certain men582 of Judah3063; and I asked7592 them concerning the Jews3064 that had escaped6413, which were left7604 of the captivity7628, and concerning Jerusalem3389.
3And they said559 unto me, The remnant7604 that are left7604 of the captivity7628 there in the province4082 are in great1419 affliction7451 and reproach2781: the wall2346 of Jerusalem3389 also is broken down6555, and the gates8179 thereof are burned3341 with fire784.
4And it came to pass, when I heard8085 these words1697, that I sat down3427 and wept1058, and mourned56 certain days3117, and fasted6684, and prayed6419 before6440 the God430 of heaven8064,
5And said559, I beseech577 thee, O LORD3068 God430 of heaven8064, the great1419 and terrible3372 God410, that keepeth8104 covenant1285 and mercy2617 for them that love157 him and observe8104 his commandments4687:
6Let thine ear241 now be attentive7183, and thine eyes5869 open6605, that thou mayest hear8085 the prayer8605 of thy servant5650, which I pray6419 before6440 thee now3117, day3119 and night3915, for the children1121 of Israel3478 thy servants5650, and confess3034 the sins2403 of the children1121 of Israel3478, which we have sinned2398 against thee: both I and my father's1 house1004 have sinned2398.
7We have dealt very2254 corruptly2254 against thee, and have not kept8104 the commandments4687, nor the statutes2706, nor the judgments4941, which thou commandedst6680 thy servant5650 Moses4872.
8Remember2142, I beseech thee, the word1697 that thou commandedst6680 thy servant5650 Moses4872, saying559, If ye transgress4603, I will scatter you abroad6327 among the nations5971:
9But if ye turn7725 unto me, and keep8104 my commandments4687, and do6213 them; though there were of you cast out5080 unto the uttermost part7097 of the heaven8064, yet will I gather6908 them from thence, and will bring935 them unto the place4725 that I have chosen977 to set7931 my name8034 there.
10Now these are thy servants5650 and thy people5971, whom thou hast redeemed6299 by thy great1419 power3581, and by thy strong2389 hand3027.
11O Lord136, I beseech577 thee, let now thine ear241 be attentive7183 to the prayer8605 of thy servant5650, and to the prayer8605 of thy servants5650, who desire2655 to fear3372 thy name8034: and prosper6743, I pray thee, thy servant5650 this day3117, and grant5414 him mercy7356 in the sight6440 of this man376. For I was the king's4428 cupbearer8248.