The words of aNehemiah
the son
of Hacaliah
.
Now it happened in bthe month
Chislev
, cin the twentieth
year
, while I was in dSusa
the 1capitol
,
that aHanani, one
of my brothers
, and 1some men
from Judah
came
; and I asked
them concerning
the Jews
who had escaped
and had survived
the captivity
, and about
Jerusalem
.
They said to me, "The remnant
there
in the aprovince
who
survived
the captivity
are in great
distress
and breproach
, and bthe wall
of Jerusalem
is broken
down
and cits gates
are burned
with fire
."
When I heard these
words
, aI sat
down
and wept
and mourned
for days
; and I was fasting
and praying
before
bthe God
of heaven
.
I said, "I beseech
You, O LORD
God
of heaven
, athe great
and awesome
God
, bwho preserves
the covenant
and lovingkindness
for those who love
Him and keep
His commandments
,
alet Your ear now
be attentive
and Your eyes
open
to hear
the prayer
of Your servant
which
I am praying
before
You now
, day
and night
, on behalf
of the sons
of Israel
Your servants
, bconfessing
the sins
of the sons
of Israel
which
we have sinned
against You; cI and my father's
house
have sinned
.
" aWe have acted very
corruptly
against You and have not kept
the commandments
, nor
the statutes
, nor
the ordinances
bwhich
You commanded
Your servant
Moses
.
"Remember the word
which
You commanded
Your servant
Moses
, saying
, ` aIf you are unfaithful
I will scatter
you among the peoples
;
abut if you return to Me and keep
My commandments
and do
them, though
those of you who have been scattered
were in the most
remote
part
of the heavens
, I bwill gather
them from there
and will bring
them cto the place
where
I have chosen
to cause My name
to dwell
.'
" aThey are Your servants and Your people
whom
You redeemed
by Your great
power
and by Your strong
hand
.
"O Lord
, I beseech
You, amay Your ear
be attentive
to the prayer
of Your servant
and the prayer
of Your servants
who delight
to 1revere
Your name
, and make
Your servant
successful
today
and grant
him compassion
before
this
man
."
Now I was the bcupbearer to the king
.