Nehemiah 1
1 The story of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, —and it came to pass, in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, when, I, was in Shusan the fortress,
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,
2 that Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men out of Judah, —so I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant who are left of the captivity, there in the province, are in great misfortune and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem, is broken down, and, the gates thereof, are burned with fire.
And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days, —and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful GOD, —keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,
6 Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—which, I, am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants, —and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father, have sinned.
let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 We have dealt, very corruptly, against thee, —and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes nor the regulations, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.
We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.
8 Remember, I pray thee, the word, which thou didst command Moses thy servant, saying, —If, ye, are unfaithful, I, will scatter you among the peoples:
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
9 When ye return unto me and keep my commandments and do them, though it should be that ye have been driven out unto the uttermost part of the heavens, from thence, will I gather them, and bring them into the place that I have chosen to make a habitation for my Name there.
but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
10 They, therefore, are thy servants, and thy people, —whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy firm hand.
They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.
11 I beseech thee O My Lord, let—I pray thee—thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now, I, was cup-bearer unto the king.
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
