[0] O LORD the God of Israel, thou art just, for we are left a remnant that
has escaped, as at this day. Behold, we are before thee in our guilt, for
none can stand before thee because of this." [1] The words of Nehemi'ah the
son of Hacali'ah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the
twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, [2] that Hana'ni, one of my
brethren, came with certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning
the Jews that survived, who had escaped exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
[3] And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who escaped
exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down,
and its gates are destroyed by fire." [4] When I heard these words I sat
down and wept, and mourned for days; and I continued fasting and praying
before the God of heaven. [5] And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great
and terrible God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love
him and keep his commandments; [6] let thy ear be attentive, and thy eyes
open, to hear the prayer of thy servant which I now pray before thee day
and night for the people of Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the
people of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's
house have sinned. [7] We have acted very corruptly against thee, and have
not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which thou
didst command thy servant Moses. [8] Remember the word which thou didst
command thy servant Moses, saying, `If you are unfaithful, I will scatter
you among the peoples; [9] but if you return to me and keep my commandments
and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will
gather them thence and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make
my name dwell there.' [10] They are thy servants and thy people, whom thou
hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand. [11] O Lord, let
thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy
servants who delight to fear thy name; and give success to thy servant
today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer
to the king.
