﻿Nehemiah.
Chapter 1.
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the citadel of Susa. 
Hanani, one of my brothers, came with some men from Judah. I asked them about the surviving Jews who had remained from the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 
They said to me, “The survivors of the captivity who remain there in the province are in great distress and disgrace. Jerusalem's wall is broken down, and its gates have been burned.” 
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 
I said, “Please, LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and faithful love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you now, day and night, for your servants the Israelites. I confess the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned. 
We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances you commanded your servant Moses. 
Please remember the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 
But if you return to me, keep my commandments, and do them, even if your outcasts are at the farthest reaches of heaven, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen to make my name dwell.’ 
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 
Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in fearing your name. Grant your servant success today, and let him find compassion before this man.” I was cupbearer to the king. 
