[1] The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month
Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, [2] that
Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I
asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the
captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. [3] They said to me, The remnant who
are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and
reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates of it
are burned with fire. [4] It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat
down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the
God of heaven, [5] and said, I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the
great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness with those who
love him and keep his commandments: [6] Let your ear now be attentive, and
your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I
pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel
your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we
have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father`s house have sinned: [7] we
have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments,
nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant
Moses. [8] Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant
Moses, saying, If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the
peoples: [9] but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them,
though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I
gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have
chosen, to cause my name to dwell there. [10] Now these are your servants
and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your
strong hand. [11] Lord, I beg you, let now your ear be attentive to the
prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to
fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him
mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup bearer to the king.
