1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the ^atwentieth year, as I was in ^bSusa the citadel, 2 that ^cHanani, 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. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and ^dshame. ^eThe wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

4 ^fAs soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the ^gGod of heaven. 5 And I said, ^h“O Lord God of heaven, the ⁱgreat and awesome God who ^jkeeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 ^klet 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, ^lconfessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 ^mWe have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, ⁿI will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, ^othough your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have ^pchosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 ^qThey are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, 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 ^rgrant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Now I was cupbearer to the king.