1These are the words of Nehemiah. He was the son of Hakaliah. I was in the fort of Susa. I was there in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king. It was in the month of Kislev.2At that time Hanani came from Judah with some other men. He was one of my brothers. I asked him and the other men about the Jews who were left alive in Judah. They had returned from Babylon. I also asked him about Jerusalem.3He and the men with him said to me, ‘Some of the people who returned are still alive. They are back in the land of Judah. But they are having a hard time. They are ashamed. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire.’4When I heard about these things, I sat down and wept. For several days I was very sad. I didn’t eat any food. And I prayed to the God of heaven.5I said, ‘LORD, you are the God of heaven. You are a great and wonderful God. You keep the covenant you made with those who love you and obey your commandments. You show them your love.6Please pay careful attention to my prayer. See how your people are suffering. Please listen to me. I’m praying to you day and night. I’m praying for the people of Israel. We Israelites have committed sins against you. All of us admit it. I and my family have also sinned against you.7We’ve done some very evil things. We haven’t obeyed the commands, rules and laws you gave your servant Moses.8‘Remember what you told him. You said, “If you people are not faithful, I will scatter you among the nations.9But if you return to me, I will bring you back. If you obey my commands, I will gather you together again. I will bring you back from the farthest places on earth. I will bring you to the special place where I have chosen to put my Name.”10‘LORD, they are your people. They serve you. You used your great strength and mighty hand to set them free from Egypt.11Lord, please pay careful attention to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of all of us. We take delight in bringing honour to your name. Give me success today when I bring my request to King Artaxerxes.’ I was the king’s wine taster.
Nehemiah 1
English Standard Version
Report from Jerusalem
1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, (Ne 2:1; Ne 10:1; Es 1:2; Es 1:5; Es 2:3; Es 2:5; Zec 7:1)2that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. (Ne 7:2)3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” (2Ki 25:10; Ne 2:3; Ne 2:13; Ne 2:17)
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Ezr 9:3; Ne 2:4)5And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, (De 7:21; Ne 9:32; Da 9:4)6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. (1Ki 8:29; 2Ch 6:40; Ezr 10:1; Ps 106:6; Da 9:18; Da 9:20)7We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. (De 28:15; Da 9:5)8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, (Le 26:33; De 4:25; De 28:64)9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ (Le 26:39; De 4:29; De 12:5; De 30:2; De 30:4)10They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. (De 9:29)11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. (Ne 1:6; Ne 2:1)