Nehemiah 1

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

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

³And they said to me, The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame . The wall of Jerusalem is broken down , and its gates are destroyed by fire .

⁴As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days , and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven .

⁵And I said , O Lord God of heaven , the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments ,

⁶let your ear be attentive and your eyes open , to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants , confessing the sins of the people of Israel , which we have sinned against you. Even 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 rules that you commanded your servant Moses .

⁸Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses , saying , If you are unfaithful , I will scatter you among the peoples ,

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

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

¹¹O 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 give success to your servant today , and grant him mercy in the sight of this man . Now I was cupbearer to the king .