Nehemiah 1

1 The words of N48Nehemiah (Nechemyah) the son of Hachalyah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah (Yehudah); and I asked them concerning the Jews (Yehudim) who had escaped, who were left from the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

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

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before God of the Heaven (Elohei haShamayim),

5 And said, “I beseech You, O יהוה God of the Heaven (Elohei haShamayim), the great and awesome God (El), who keepeth covenant and mercy for them who love him and observe His commandments;

6 Let Your ear now be attentive, and Your eyes open, that You mayest hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Yisrael Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Yisrael, which we have sinned against You; both I and my father’s house have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which You commandedst Your servant Moses (Mosheh).

8 Remember, I beseech You, the word that You commandedst Your servant Moses (Mosheh), saying, ‘If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations;

9 But if you turn unto Me, and keep My commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My name there.’

10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.

11 O Lord (Adonai), I beseech You, let now Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants, who desire to fear Your name; I pray You, prosper Your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.