Neh 1 | ABEn | STEP | The words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chislev, [ 2 year 1 in the twentieth], that I was in Susa Abira.

‏ Nehemiah 1

CHAPTER 1 Nehemiah Prays and Fasts

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chislev, [²year ¹in the twentieth], that I was in Susa Abira. 2 And there came Hanani one of my brethren, he and the men of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews, of the ones having survived, the ones left behind from the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, The ones remaining behind surviving from the captivity there in the place are among [²wickedness ¹great], and in scorning; and the walls of Jerusalem are being demolished, and its gates were burnt by fire. 4 And it came to pass in my hearing these words, I sat and wept and mourned for days, and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, O indeed, O lord God of heaven, the strong and great and fearful one, guarding the covenant and the mercy to the ones loving him and to the ones guarding his commandments. 6 Let it be indeed your ear heeds, and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant! which I pray before you today's day and night, for the sons of Israel your servants. And I declare openly concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, in which we sinned against you; both I and the house of my father sinned. 7 In parting, we parted from you, and we guarded not the commandments, and the orders, and the judgments, which you gave charge to Moses your servant. 8 Remember indeed! the word which you gave charge to Moses, to your servant, saying, If [²should break contract ¹You], I shall disperse you among the peoples. 9 But if you should return to me, and should guard my commandments, and observe them; and if [²might be ¹your dispersion] unto the tip of the heaven, from there I will gather them, and I will bring them into the place which I chose to encamp my name there. 10 And they are your children and your people, whom you ransomed by [³power ¹your ²great], and by [³hand ¹your ²fortified]. 11 Indeed, O lord, let be your ear heeding to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your children! of the ones wanting to fear your name. And prosper the way indeed of your servant today, and give him for compassions before this man! And I was a wine server to the king.