Thomson(i)
1 The words of Nehemias, son of Chelkia. In the month Chaseleu of the twentieth year, when I was at Susanabira,
2 Anani, one of my brethren, came with certain men of Juda, and I inquired of them concerning the remnant who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;
3 and they informed me that the remnant of the captivity who were left, were in that country in great affliction and reproach, and that the walls of Jerusalem continued demolished, and that the gates thereof were burned with fire.
4 Upon hearing this report, I sat down and wept and mourned some days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven,
5 and I said, I beseech thee, Lord, God of heaven, the Mighty, the Great and the Awful, who keepest thy covenant and thy mercy with them who love thee and keep thy commandments,
6 let thine ear, I beseech thee, be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayst hear the prayer of thy servant which I now make before thee day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and plead for their sins which we have committed against thee. Both I and my father's house have sinned against thee.
7 We have broken covenant with thee, and have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou gavest in charge to thy servant Moses.
8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word which thou didst give in charge to Moses thy servant, saying, When you break covenant with me, and I scatter you among the nations;
9 if you then return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersion may be to the farthest part of heaven, thence I will gather them and bring them to the place which I have chosen for my name to dwell there.
10 Now they are thy servants and thy people, whom thon hast redeemed with thy great power, and with thy strong hand.
11 Turn not away, I beseech thee, Lord. But let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy children, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I beseech thee, thy servant this day, and grant him favour in the sight of this man. Now I was the king's butler,