Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah’s Concern for Jerusalem

1These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign

, I was at the fortress of Susa.H1697H5166H1121H2446H2320H3691H6242H8141H7800H10022Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.H2607H259H251H935H582H3063H7592H3064H6413H7604H7628H33893They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."H559H7604H7604H7628H4082H1419H7451H2781H2346H3389H6555H8179H3341H7844When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.H8085H1697H3427H1058H56H3117H6684H6419H6440H430H80645Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands,H559H577H3068H430H8064H1419H3372H410H8104H1285H2617H157H8104H46876listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!H241H7183H5869H6605H8085H8605H5650H6419H6440H3117H3119H3915H1121H3478H5650H3034H2403H1121H3478H2398H1H1004H23987We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.H2254H2254H8104H4687H2706H4941H6680H5650H48728"Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.H2142H1697H6680H5650H4872H559H4603H6327H59719But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'H7725H8104H4687H6213H5080H7097H8064H6908H935H4725H977H7931H803410"The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.H5650H5971H6299H1419H3581H2389H302711O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me

. Put it into his heart to be kind to me." In those days I was the king's cup-bearer.H136H577H241H7183H8605H5650H8605H5650H2655H3372H8034H6743H5650H3117H5414H7356H6440H376H4428H8248