Nehemiah 1:4-9

4When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

5Then I said, “Please, O lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments,

6may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you – both I myself and my family have sinned.

7We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.

8Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations.

9But if you repent and obey my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.’