CHAPTER 1
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,
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.
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.”
When I heard
these
words,
I sat down
and wept.
I mourned
for days,
fasting
and praying
before
the God
of heaven.
Then I said:
“I pray,
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,
may Your eyes
be
open
and Your ears
be 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
we Israelites
have committed
against You.
Both I
and my father's
house
have sinned.
We have behaved corruptly
against You
and have not
kept
the commandments,
statutes,
and ordinances
that
You gave
Your servant
Moses.
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,
but if you return
to Me
to keep
and practice
My commandments,
then even if
your exiles
have been
banished to the ends
of the earth,
I will gather them
from there
and bring
them to
the place
I have chosen
as a dwelling
for
My Name.’
O Lord,
may Your ear
be
attentive
to
the prayer
of Your servant
and to
the prayers
of Your servants
who delight
in reverence
of Your name.
Give Your servant
success
this day,
I pray,
and grant him
mercy
in the sight
of this
man."
(For I
was
the cupbearer
to the king.)