1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2that 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. 3And they said to 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 its gates are burned with fire. 4And it happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven, 5and said, I implore you, O Yehovah, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness with those who love him and keep his commandments: 6let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Indeed, I and my father’s house have sinned: 7we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember, I implore you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples: 9but 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 cause my name to dwell there. 10Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. 11O Lord, I implore you, let your ear now be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.