Nehemiah 1

CLV(i) 1 Words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it comes to pass, in the month of Chisleu, the twentieth year, and I have been in Shushan the palace, 2 and come in does Hanani, one of my brethren, he and men of Judah, and I ask them concerning the Jews, the escaped part that have been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;" 3 and they say to me, `Those left, who have been left of the captivity there in the province, [are] in great evil, and in reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burnt with fire.. 4 And it comes to pass, at my hearing these words, I have sat down, and I weep and mourn [for] days, and I am fasting and praying before the Elohim of the heavens. 5 And I say, `I beseech you, O Yahweh, Elohim of the heavens, El, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and kindness for those loving Him, and for those keeping His commands, 6 let Your ear be, I pray You, attentive, and Your eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Your servant, that I am praying before You to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Your servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against You; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;" 7 we have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments, that You did command Moses Your servant. 8 `Remember, I pray You, the word that You did command Moses Your servant, saying, You--you trespass--I scatter you among peoples;" 9 and you have turned back unto Me, and kept My commands, and done them--if your outcast is in the end of the heavens, thence I gather them, and have brought them in unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to tabernacle there. 10 And they [are] Your servants, and Your people, whom You have ransomed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 `I beseech You, O Lord, let, I pray You, Your ear be attentive unto the prayer of Your servant, and unto the prayer of Your servants, those delighting to fear Your Name; and give prosperity, I pray You, to Your servant to-day, and give him for mercies before this man;' and I have been butler to the king.