Nehemiah 1

1 The story of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, —and it came to pass, in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, when, I, was in Shusan the fortress,

The 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,

2 that Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men out of Judah, —so I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

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.

3 And they said unto me, The remnant who are left of the captivity, there in the province, are in great misfortune and reproach, the wall of Jerusalem, is broken down, and, the gates thereof, are burned with fire.

They said to me, "The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and I mourned certain days, —and continued fasting and praying, before the God of the heavens;

It happened, 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,

5 and said, I beseech thee, O Yahweh God of the heavens, the great and fearful GOD, —keeping the covenant and lovingkindness for them who love him and keep his commandments:

and said, "I beg you, YHWH, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:

6 Let, I pray thee, thine ears be attentive and thine eyes open—to hearken unto the prayer of thy servant—which, I, am praying before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants, —and making confession concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have committed against thee, both I and the house of my father, have sinned.

Let 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. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned.

7 We have dealt, very corruptly, against thee, —and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes nor the regulations, which thou didst command Moses thy servant.

We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.

8 Remember, I pray thee, the word, which thou didst command Moses thy servant, saying, —If, ye, are unfaithful, I, will scatter you among the peoples:

"Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;

9 When ye return unto me and keep my commandments and do them, though it should be that ye have been driven out unto the uttermost part of the heavens, from thence, will I gather them, and bring them into the place that I have chosen to make a habitation for my Name there.

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 will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.'

10 They, therefore, are thy servants, and thy people, —whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy firm hand.

"Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.

11 I beseech thee O My Lord, let—I pray thee—thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of thy servant, and unto the prayer of thy servants who delight to revere thy Name, and oh prosper, I pray thee, thy servant to-day, and grant him compassion before this man. Now, I, was cup-bearer unto the king.

Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now 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 cup bearer to the king.