Nehemiah Chapter 1

1The wordsH1697 of NehemiahH5166 the sonH1121 of HacaliahH2446.

Now it came to pass in the monthH2320 Chislev, in the twentieth yearH8141, as I wasH1961 in Shushan the palace, 2that HananiH2607, oneH259 of my brethren, cameH935, he and certain menH376 out of JudahH3063; and I askedH7592 them concerning the JewsH3064 that had escapedH6413, that were leftH7604 of the captivityH7628, and concerning JerusalemH3389. 3And they saidH559 unto me, The remnantH7604 that are leftH7604 of the captivityH7628 there in the provinceH4082 are in greatH1419 affliction and reproachH2781: the wallH2346 of JerusalemH3389 also is brokenH6555 downH6555, and the gatesH8179 thereof are burnedH3341 with fireH784.

4And it came to pass, when I heardH8085 these wordsH1697, that I satH3427 downH3427 and weptH1058, and mournedH56 certain daysH3117; and I fastedH6684 and prayedH6419 before the GodH430 of heavenH8064, 5and saidH559, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the GodH430 of heavenH8064, the greatH1419 and terrible GodH430, that keepeth covenantH1285 and lovingkindness with them that loveH157 him and keepH8104 his commandmentsH4687: 6let thine earH241 now beH1961 attentive, and thine eyesH5869 open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayerH8605 of thy servantH5650, which I prayH6419 before thee at this time, dayH3117 and nightH3915, for the children of IsraelH3478 thy servantsH5650, while I confessH3034 the sinsH2398 of the children of IsraelH3478, which we have sinnedH2398 against thee. Yea, I and my father’sH1 houseH1004 have sinnedH2398: 7we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not keptH8104 the commandmentsH4687, nor the statutesH2706, nor the ordinancesH4941, which thou commandedst thy servantH5650 MosesH4872. 8RememberH2142, I beseech thee, the wordH1697 that thou commandedst thy servantH5650 MosesH4872, sayingH559, If ye trespass, I will scatterH6327 you abroad among the peoplesH5971: 9but if ye returnH7725 unto me, and keepH8104 my commandmentsH4687 and do them, though your outcastsH5080 were in the uttermost part of the heavensH8064, yet will I gatherH6908 them from thence, and will bringH935 them unto the placeH4725 that I have chosenH977, to cause my nameH8034 to dwellH7931 there. 10Now these are thy servantsH5650 and thy peopleH5971, whom thou hast redeemedH6299 by thy greatH1419 power, and by thy strongH2389 handH3027. 11O LordH136, I beseech thee, let now thine earH241 beH1961 attentive to the prayerH8605 of thy servantH5650, and to the prayerH8605 of thy servantsH5650, who delightH2655 to fearH3372 thy nameH8034; and prosperH6743, I pray thee, thy servantH5650 this dayH3117, and grant him mercy in the sight of this manH376.

Now I was cupbearerH4945 to the kingH4428.