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, 7and some men from Judah came; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped 8and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the 9province who survived the captivity are in great distress and 10disgrace, and 11the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and 12its gates have been burned with fire.”

4Now when I heard these words, 13I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before 14the God of heaven. 5I said, “Please, Lord God of heaven, 15the great and awesome God, 16who keeps the covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments: 617let 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, 18confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; 19I and my father’s house have sinned. 720We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances 21which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8Remember, please, the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘22If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 923but 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 24will gather them from there and bring them 25to the place where I have chosen to have My name dwell.’ 1026They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11Please, Lord, 27may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to 28revere Your name, and please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man.”

Now I was the 29cupbearer to the king.