1 The words of ANeh 10:1Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in BZech 7:1the month Chislev, CNeh 2:1in the twentieth year, while I was in DEsth 1:2; Dan 8:2Susa the 1Or palace or citadelcapitol, 2 that ANeh 7:2Hanani, one of my brothers, and 1Lit he and somesome men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the ANeh 7:6province who survived the captivity are in great distress and BNeh 2:17reproach, and BNeh 2:17the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and CNeh 2:3its gates are burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these words, AEzra 9:3; 10:1I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before BNeh 2:4the God of heaven. 5 I said, “I beseech You, O Loʀᴅ God of heaven, ANeh 4:14; 9:32; Dan 9:4the great and awesome God, BEx 20:6; Ps 89:2, 3who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 ADan 9:17let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, BEzra 10:1; Dan 9:20confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; C2 Chr 29:6I and my father’s house have sinned. 7  “ADan 9:5We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances BDeut 28:14which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8  “Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘ALev 26:33If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 ADeut 30:2, 3but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I BDeut 30:4will gather them from there and will bring them CDeut 12:5to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ 10  “AEx 32:11; Deut 9:29They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11  “O Lord, I beseech You, ANeh 1:6may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to 1Or fearrevere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”

Now I was the BGen 40:21; Neh 2:1cupbearer to the king.