1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
1:2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
1:3 And they said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.
1:4 And 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,
1:5 and said, I urge you, O Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving-kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:
1:6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your slave, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the sons of Israel your slaves while I confess the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned:
1:7 we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your slave Moses.
1:8 Remember, I urge you, the word that you commanded your slave Moses, saying, If you+ trespass, I will scatter you+ abroad among the peoples:
1:9 but if you+ return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your+ outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to make my name stay there.
1:10 Now these are your slaves and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.
1:11 O Lord, I urge you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your slave, and to the prayer of your slaves, who delight to fear your name; and prosper, I pray you, your slave this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.