Revised
Standard Version of the Holy Bible
Nehemiah
Chapter 1 (Revised Standard Version)
Nehemiah 1
1 The words of Nehemi'ah the son of Hacali'ah. Now it happened in the
month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital,
2 that Hana'ni, one of my brethren, came with certain men out of
Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that survived, who had escaped
exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me, "The survivors there in the province who
escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is
broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire."
4 When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days;
and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God
who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his
commandments;
6 let thy ear be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of
thy servant which I now pray before thee day and night for the people of
Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we
have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We have acted very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the
commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which thou didst command
thy servant Moses.
8 Remember the word which thou didst command thy servant Moses,
saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples;
9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them,
though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them
thence and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make my name
dwell there.'
10 They are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by
thy great power and by thy strong hand.
11 O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and
to the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name; and give
success to thy servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this
man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
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