Nehemiah Chapter 1

Nehemiah’s Grief for the Exiles

1The words of 1Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in 2the month Chislev, 3in the twentieth year, while I was in 4Susa the 5capitol, 2that 6Hanani, one of my brothers, and 7some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3They said to me, “The remnant there in the 8province who survived the captivity are in great distress and 9reproach, and 10the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and 11its gates are burned with fire.”

4When I heard these words, 12I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before 13the God of heaven. 5I said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, 14the great and awesome God, 15who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 616let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, 17confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; 18I and my father’s house have sinned. 719We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances 20which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘21If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 922but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I 23will gather them from there and will bring them 24to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ 1025They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11O Lord, I beseech You, 26may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to 27revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”

Now I was the 28cupbearer to the king.