1This is the account of what Nehemiah son of Hacaliah accomplished. In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was emperor of Persia, I, Nehemiah, was in Susa, the capital city.H1697H5166H1121H2446H2320H3691H6242H8141H7800H10022Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived from Judah with another group, and I asked them about Jerusalem and about the other Jews who had returned from exile in Babylonia.H2607H259H251H935H582H3063H7592H3064H6413H7604H7628H33893They told me that those who had survived and were back in the homeland were in great difficulty and that the foreigners who lived nearby looked down on them. They also told me that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down and that the gates had not been restored since the time they were burned.H559H7604H7604H7628H4082H1419H7451H2781H2346H3389H6555H8179H3341H7844When I heard all this, I sat down and wept. For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God,H8085H1697H3427H1058H56H3117H6684H6419H6440H430H80645" LORD God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command.H559H577H3068H430H8064H1419H3372H410H8104H1285H2617H157H8104H46876Look at me, LORD, and hear my prayer, as I pray day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess that we, the people of Israel, have sinned. My ancestors and I have sinned.H241H7183H5869H6605H8085H8605H5650H6419H6440H3117H3119H3915H1121H3478H5650H3034H2403H1121H3478H2398H1H1004H23987We have acted wickedly against you and have not done what you commanded. We have not kept the laws which you gave us through Moses, your servant.H2254H2254H8104H4687H2706H4941H6680H5650H48728Remember now what you told Moses: 'If you people of Israel are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the other nations.H2142H1697H6680H5650H4872H559H4603H6327H59719But then if you turn back to me and do what I have commanded you, I will bring you back to the place where I have chosen to be worshiped, even though you are scattered to the ends of the earth.'H7725H8104H4687H6213H5080H7097H8064H6908H935H4725H977H7931H803410"Lord, these are your servants, your own people. You rescued them by your great power and strength.H5650H5971H6299H1419H3581H2389H302711Listen now to my prayer and to the prayers of all your other servants who want to honor you. Give me success today and make the emperor merciful to me." In those days I was the emperor's wine steward.H136H577H241H7183H8605H5650H8605H5650H2655H3372H8034H6743H5650H3117H5414H7356H6440H376H4428H8248
