| |
Revised Standard Version |   | |
 |
| |
| | Neh 1:1 | The words of Nehemi'ah the son of Hacali'ah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital,
| |
| | Neh 1:2 | that Hana'ni, one of my brethren, came with certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that survived, who had escaped exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
| |
| | Neh 1:3 | And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire."
| |
| | Neh 1:4 | When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
| |
| | Neh 1:5 | And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments;
| |
| | Neh 1:6 | let thy ear be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant which I now pray before thee day and night for the people of Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
| |
| | Neh 1:7 | We have acted very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which thou didst command thy servant Moses.
| |
| | Neh 1:8 | Remember the word which thou didst command thy servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples;
| |
| | Neh 1:9 | but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them thence and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.'
| |
| | Neh 1:10 | They are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand.
| |
| | Neh 1:11 | O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name; and give success to thy servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
| |
