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, 7and some menH376 from JudahH3063 cameH935; and I askedH7592 them aboutH5921 the JewsH3064 who had escapedH6413 8and had survivedH7604 the captivityH7628, and aboutH5921 JerusalemH3389. 3And they saidH559 to me, “The remnantH7604 thereH8033 in the 9provinceH4082 whoH834 survivedH7604 the captivityH7628 are in greatH1419 distressH7463 and 10disgraceH2781, and 11the wallH2346 of JerusalemH3389 is brokenH6555 downH6555 and 12its gatesH8179 have been burnedH3341 with fireH784.”

4Now when I heardH8085 theseH428 wordsH1697, 13I satH3427 downH3427 and weptH1058 and mournedH56 for daysH3117; and I was fastingH6684 and prayingH6419 beforeH6440 14the GodH430 of heavenH8064. 5I saidH559, “PleaseH577, LordH3068 GodH430 of heavenH8064, 15the greatH1419 and awesomeH3372 GodH410, 16who keepsH8104 the covenantH1285 and faithfulnessH2617 for those who loveH157 Him and keepH8104 His commandmentsH4687: 617let 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, onH5921 behalfH5921 ofH5921 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 Your servantsH5650, 18confessingH3034 the sinsH2403 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 whichH834 we have committedH2398 against You; 19I and my father’sH1 houseH1004 have sinnedH2398. 720We have actedH2254 veryH2254 corruptlyH2254 against You and have not keptH8104 the commandmentsH4687, norH3808 the statutesH2706, norH3808 the ordinancesH4941 21whichH834 You commandedH6680 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872. 8RememberH2142, pleaseH4994, the wordH1697 whichH834 You commandedH6680 Your servantH5650 MosesH4872, sayingH559, ‘22If you areH4603 unfaithfulH4603, I will scatterH6327 you among the peoplesH5971; 923but 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 24will gatherH6908 them from thereH8033 and bringH935 them 25to the placeH4725 whereH834H8033 I have chosenH977 to have My nameH8034 dwellH7931.’ 1026They are Your servantsH5650 and Your peopleH5971 whomH834 You redeemedH6299 by Your greatH1419 powerH3581 and by Your strongH2389 handH3027. 11PleaseH577, LordH136, 27may Your earH241 be attentiveH7183 to the prayerH8605 of Your servantH5650 and the prayerH8605 of Your servantsH5650 who delightH2655 to 28revereH3372 Your nameH8034, and pleaseH4994 makeH6743 Your servantH5650 successfulH6743 todayH3117 and grantH5414 him mercyH7356 beforeH6440 thisH2088 manH376.”

Now I was the 29cupbearerH4945 to the kingH4428.