Nehemiah 1

1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

1These are the words of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was in the fortress of Susa.

2that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

2My brother Hanani came from Judah with some other men. I asked them about the Jews who had survived the exile and about the city of Jerusalem.

3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

3They told me, "The survivors who are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire."

4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,

4When I heard this news, I sat down and cried. I mourned for several days, fasting and praying to the God of heaven.

5and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments:

5I said, "Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his promise and shows constant love to those who love him and obey his commands, please listen."

6let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father’s house have sinned:

6"Please look at me and hear the prayer I am praying to you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you. My own family and I have sinned."

7we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

7"We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, rules, and laws you gave to your servant Moses."

8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples:

8"Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations.' "

9but if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.

9" 'But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you are scattered to the farthest edges of the earth, I will gather you from there. I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.' "

10Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

10"These are your servants and your people, whom you rescued by your great power and strong hand."

11O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.

11"Lord, please listen to my prayer and to the prayers of all your servants who enjoy honoring you. Please give me success today and lead the king to be kind to me." At that time, I was the king's cupbearer.