1In this book, I, Hacaliah's son Nehemiah, recount what occurred in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes during the month of Chislev, while I was in Shushan at the palace.H1697H5166H1121H2446H2320H3691H6242H8141H7800H10022Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, about those who had survived the Babylonian captivity, and about Jerusalem.H2607H259H251H935H582H3063H7592H3064H6413H7604H7628H33893They told me, "The survivors of the captivity there in the province are living in great distress and shame. Furthermore, the Jerusalem wall remains broken down and its gates have been burned by fire."H559H7604H7604H7628H4082H1419H7451H2781H2346H3389H6555H8179H3341H784
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4When I heard this, I sat down and cried, mourning for a number of days while I fasted and prayed in the presence of the God of Heaven.H8085H1697H3427H1058H56H3117H6684H6419H6440H430H80645I said, "Please, Lord, God of Heaven, the great and fearsome God who keeps the covenant, showing gracious love to those who love you and keep your commands,H559H577H3068H430H8064H1419H3372H410H8104H1285H2617H157H8104H46876please turn your attention to observe carefully and listen to the prayer of your servant today that I am presenting to you day and night on behalf of your servants, the Israelites. "I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned.H241H7183H5869H6605H8085H8605H5650H6419H6440H3117H3119H3915H1121H3478H5650H3034H2403H1121H3478H2398H1H1004H23987We have abandoned you by not keeping your commands, your ceremonies, and your judgments that you proscribed to your servant Moses.H2254H2254H8104H4687H2706H4941H6680H5650H48728Please remember what you spoke in commanding your servant Moses. You said, If you rebel, I will scatter you among the nationsH2142H1697H6680H5650H4872H559H4603H6327H59719but if you return to me, keeping my commands and doing them, even if your exiled people are in the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to establish my Name.1H7725H8104H4687H6213H5080H7097H8064H6908H935H4725H977H7931H803410These are your servants as well as your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.H5650H5971H6299H1419H3581H2389H302711"And now, Lord, I ask you to listen to the prayer of your servant - and to the prayers of your servants who delight in revering your Name. I ask you, please prosper your servant today by granting him to receive favor from this man." Now I was the king's senior security advisor.H136H577H241H7183H8605H5650H8605H5650H2655H3372H8034H6743H5650H3117H5414H7356H6440H376H4428H8248
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