Nehemiah Chapter 1

Nehemiah’s Grief for the Exiles

1The wordsH1697 of 1NehemiahH5166 the sonH1121 of HacaliahH2446.

Now it happenedH1961 in 2the monthH2320 ChislevH3691, 3in the twentiethH6242 yearH8141, while I was in 4SusaH7800 the 5capitolH1002, 2that 6HananiH2607, oneH259 of my brothersH251, and 7some menH376 from JudahH3063 cameH935; and I askedH7592 them concerningH5921 the JewsH3064 who had escapedH6413 and had survivedH7604 the captivityH7628, and aboutH5921 JerusalemH3389. 3They saidH559 to me, “The remnantH7604 thereH8033 in the 8provinceH4082 whoH834 survivedH7604 the captivityH7628 are in greatH1419 distressH7463 and 9reproachH2781, and 10the wallH2346 of JerusalemH3389 is brokenH6555 downH6555 and 11its gatesH8179 are burnedH3341 with fireH784.”

4When I heardH8085 theseH428 wordsH1697, 12I satH3427 downH3427 and weptH1058 and mournedH56 for daysH3117; and I was fastingH6684 and prayingH6419 beforeH6440 13the GodH430 of heavenH8064. 5I saidH559, “I beseechH577 You, O LordH3068 GodH430 of heavenH8064, 14the greatH1419 and awesomeH3372 GodH410, 15who preservesH8104 the covenantH1285 and lovingkindnessH2617 for those who loveH157 Him and keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687, 616let Your earH241 nowH4994 be attentiveH7183 and Your eyesH5869 openH6605 to hearH8085 the prayerH8605 of Your servantH5650 whichH834 I am prayingH6419 beforeH6440 You nowH3117, dayH3119 and nightH3915, on behalfH5921 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 Your servantsH5650, 17confessingH3034 the sinsH2403 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 whichH834 we have sinnedH2398 against You; 18I and my father’sH1 houseH1004 have sinnedH2398. 719We have actedH2254 veryH2254 corruptlyH2254 against You and have not keptH8104 the commandmentsH4687, norH3808 the statutesH2706, norH3808 the ordinancesH4941 20whichH834 You commandedH6680 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872. 8RememberH2142 the wordH1697 whichH834 You commandedH6680 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872, sayingH559, ‘21If you are unfaithfulH4603 I will scatterH6327 you among the peoplesH5971; 922but if you returnH7725 to Me and keepH8104 My commandmentsH4687 and doH6213 them, thoughH518 those of you who have been scatteredH5080 were in the mostH7097 remoteH7097 partH7097 of the heavensH8064, I 23will gatherH6908 them from thereH8033 and will bringH935 them 24to the placeH4725 whereH834H8033 I have chosenH977 to cause My nameH8034 to dwellH7931.’ 1025They are Your servantsH5650 and Your peopleH5971 whomH834 You redeemedH6299 by Your greatH1419 powerH3581 and by Your strongH2389 handH3027. 11OH577 LordH136, I beseechH577 You, 26may Your earH241 be attentiveH7183 to the prayerH8605 of Your servantH5650 and the prayerH8605 of Your servantsH5650 who delightH2655 to 27revereH3372 Your nameH8034, and makeH6743 Your servantH5650 successfulH6743 todayH3117 and grantH5414 him compassionH7356 beforeH6440 thisH2088 manH376.”

Now I was the 28cupbearerH4945 to the kingH4428.