Nehemiah 1 — Berean Standard Bible

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, ² 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 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 have been burned with fire.” ⁴ When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. ⁵ 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 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 behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses. ⁸ 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 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 are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. ¹¹ 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.)