Nehemiah Prays for His People
1 The words ofNehemiah the son of Hachaliah.
# It came to pass in the month of Chislev,inthetwentieth year, as I was inShushan the citadel,
2 thatHanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in theprovincearethere in great distress andreproach.The wall of Jerusalemisalso broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mournedformanydays; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 And I said: “I pray,LordGod of heaven, O great andawesome God,Youwho keepYourcovenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,
6 please let Your ear be attentive andYour eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, andconfess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.
7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and havenot kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying,‘Ifyou are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;
9 butifyou return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them,though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens,yetI will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’
10 Now theseareYour servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.
11 O Lord, I pray, pleaselet Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants whodesire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
# For I was the king’scupbearer.