Nehemiah Chapter 1

Berean Standard Bible

Nehemiah’s Prayer

1These are the wordsH1697 of NehemiahH5166 sonH1121 of HacaliahH2446:

In the monthH1961 H2320 of ChislevH3691,1 in the twentiethH6242 yearH8141, while IH589 wasH1961 in the citadelH1002 of SusaH7800, 2HananiH2607, oneH259 of my brothersH251 H1931, arrivedH935 with menH582 from JudahH3063. So I questioned themH7592 aboutH5921 the remnantH6413 of the JewsH3064 whoH834 had survivedH7604 the exileH7628, and also aboutH5921 JerusalemH3389.

3And they toldH559 me, “The remnantH7604 whoH834 survivedH7604 H4480 the exileH7628 are thereH8033 in the provinceH4082, in greatH1419 troubleH7451 and disgraceH2781. The wallH2346 of JerusalemH3389 is broken downH6555, and its gatesH8179 have been burnedH3341 with fireH784.”

When I heardH8085 theseH428 wordsH1697, I sat downH3427 and weptH1058. I mournedH56 for daysH3117 H1961, fastingH6684 and prayingH6419 beforeH6440 the GodH430 of heavenH8064.

5Then I saidH559:

“OH577 LORDH3068, GodH430 of heavenH8064, the greatH1419 and awesomeH3372 GodH410 who keepsH8104 His covenantH1285 of loving devotionH2617 2 with those who love HimH157 and keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687, 6let Your eyesH5869 beH1961 H4994 openH6605 and Your earsH241 attentiveH7183 to hearH8085 H413 the prayerH8605 thatH834 IH595, Your servantH5650, nowH3117 prayH6419 before YouH6440 dayH3119 and nightH3915 forH5921 Your servantsH5650, the IsraelitesH1121 H3478.

I confessH3034 H5921 the sinsH2403 thatH834 we IsraelitesH1121 H3478 have committedH2398 against You. Both IH589 and my father’sH1 houseH1004 have sinnedH2398. 7We have behaved corruptlyH2254 against You and have notH3808 keptH8104 the commandmentsH4687 , statutesH2706 , and ordinancesH4941 thatH834 You gaveH6680 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872.

8RememberH2142, I prayH4994 , the wordH1697 thatH834 You commandedH6680 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872 when You saidH559, ‘If youH859 are unfaithfulH4603, IH589 will scatterH6327 youH853 among the nationsH5971, 9but if you returnH7725 to MeH413 and keepH8104 and practiceH6213 My commandmentsH4687, then even ifH518 your exilesH5080 have beenH1961 banished to the farthestH7097 horizonH8064,3 I will gather themH6908 from thereH8033 and bring themH935 toH413 the placeH4725 I have chosenH977 as a dwellingH7931 forH853 My NameH8034.’4

10TheyH1992 are Your servantsH5650 and Your peopleH5971. You redeemedH6299 themH834 by Your greatH1419 powerH3581 and mightyH2389 handH3027. 11O LordH136 , may Your earH241 beH1961 H4994 attentiveH7183 toH413 my prayerH8605 H5650 and toH413 the prayersH8605 of Your servantsH5650 5 who delightH2655 to revereH3372 Your nameH8034. Give Your servantH5650 successH6743 this dayH3117, I prayH4994, and grant himH5414 mercyH7356 in the sightH6440 of thisH2088 manH376.”

(At that time IH589 wasH1961 the cupbearerH4945 to the kingH4428.)

1. Nehemiah 1:1 Chislev is the ninth month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of November and December. ↩
2. Nehemiah 1:5 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. ↩
3. Nehemiah 1:9 Or to the extremity of the heavens ↩
4. Nehemiah 1:9 Deuteronomy 30:1–4 ↩
5. Nehemiah 1:11 Literally to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants ↩