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 capital,H1697H5166H1121H2446H2320H3691H6242H8141H7800H10022that 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.H2607H259H251H935H582H3063H7592H3064H6413H7604H7628H33893And 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."H559H7604H7604H7628H4082H1419H7451H2781H2346H3389H6555H8179H3341H784
Nehemiah’s Prayer
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.H8085H1697H3427H1058H56H3117H6684H6419H6440H430H80645And 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,H559H577H3068H430H8064H1419H3372H410H8104H1285H2617H157H8104H46876let 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.H241H7183H5869H6605H8085H8605H5650H6419H6440H3117H3119H3915H1121H3478H5650H3034H2403H1121H3478H2398H1H1004H23987We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.H2254H2254H8104H4687H2706H4941H6680H5650H48728Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,H2142H1697H6680H5650H4872H559H4603H6327H59719but 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.'H7725H8104H4687H6213H5080H7097H8064H6908H935H4725H977H7931H803410They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.H5650H5971H6299H1419H3581H2389H302711O 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.H136H577H241H7183H8605H5650H8605H5650H2655H3372H8034H6743H5650H3117H5414H7356H6440H376H4428H8248