The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Nehemiah 01
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he
and certain men out of Judah; and I asked
them about 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 ofJerusalem is also broken down, and
its gates are burned with fire.”
4 When I heard these words, I sat down
and wept, and mourned several 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 loving kindness
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
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 I will gather them from there,
and will bring them to the place thatI 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 your ear be attentive now to the prayer of
your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight
to fear your name; and please prosper
your servant today, and grant him mercy
in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cup bearer to the king