Nehemiah 1
1
Report from Jerusalem
1The words of #ch. 10:1 Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of #Zech. 7:1 Chislev, #ch. 2:1 in the twentieth year, as I was in #Esth. 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5Susa the citadel, 2that #ch. 7:2Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and #ch. 2:17 shame. #ch. 2:13; 2 Kgs. 25:10 The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, #ch. 2:3, 13, 17and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah’s Prayer
4As soon as I heard these words I #[Ezra 9:3] sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the #ch. 2:4God of heaven. 5And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, #ch. 9:32; Dan. 9:4; [Deut. 7:21]the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6#Dan. 9:18; [1 Kgs. 8:29; 2 Chr. 6:40] let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, #Ezra 10:1; Dan. 9:20 confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even #[Ps. 106:6]I and my father’s house have sinned. 7#Dan. 9:5 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules #Deut. 28:15that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, #Lev. 26:33; Deut. 28:64; See Deut. 4:25-27I will scatter you among the peoples, 9#Lev. 26:39-42; Deut. 4:29-31; 30:2, 3 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, #Deut. 30:4 though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them #Deut. 12:5to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10#Deut. 9:29They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11O Lord, #[See ver. 6 above] let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was #[ch. 2:1]cupbearer to the king.
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Nehemiah 1: ESV
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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