King James Version

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah, and it came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, I was in Shushan the citadel. 2 And one of the sons of Hanani came to me, and men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, the remnant that remained from the captivity who were left in the province, is in great evil and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. 4 And when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and mercy for those who love me and for those who keep my commandments." 6 Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying before you today, day and night, for the children of Israel, your servants, and confessing the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you, and I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted wickedly toward you, and we have not kept the commandments and the statutes and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember, please, the word that you commanded your servant Moses to say, "You will be scattered among the nations." 9 And you will return to Me and keep My commandments and do them. If you are scattered to the ends of the heavens, from there I will gather you and bring you to the place that I have chosen to make My name dwell there. 10 And they are your servants and your people whom you redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 Please, my Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and grant success, please, to Your servant today and give him mercy in the sight of this man, for I was the cupbearer to the king.