Berean Standard Bible

Nehemiah 1:4-9

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 1 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 horizonH8064,2 I will gather themH6908 from thereH8033 and bring themH935 toH413 the placeH4725 I have chosenH977 as a dwellingH7931 forH853 My NameH8034.’3

Notes

1. 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. ↩
2. Nehemiah 1:9 Or to the extremity of the heavens ↩
3. Nehemiah 1:9 Deuteronomy 30:1–4 ↩