Nehemiah 1

News from Jerusalem

1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the citadel of Susa 2when Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, the remnant left from the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3They told me, “The survivors left from the captivity, there in the province, are in terrible trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken open, and its gates have been burned down.” 4When I heard all this, I sat down and wept. For days I went on mourning, fasting and praying before the God of heaven,

Nehemiah prays

5and I said: “Please, Yahweh, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and faithful love with those who love him and observe his commandments — 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to listen to the prayer your servant prays before you now, day and night, on behalf of the Israelites, your servants. I confess the sins we Israelites have committed against you. I myself and my father’s house have sinned. 7We have acted very corruptly toward you. We have not kept the commandments, the statutes and the rulings that you laid on your servant Moses. 8Remember, please, the word you entrusted to your servant Moses: ‘If you break faith with me, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you come back to me and keep my commandments and carry them out, then even if your exiles are at the far edge of the sky, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place I have chosen to settle my name.’ 10They are your servants, your own people, whom you ransomed by your great strength and your powerful hand. 11Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today, and let this man show him compassion.” At that time I was cupbearer to the king.