Nehemiah:1

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* THE WORDS of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah . Now it came to pass in the month Chislev , in the twentieth year , as I was in Shushan the castle , * that Hanani , one of my brethren , came out of Judah , he and certain men ; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped , that were left of the captivity , and concerning Jerusalem . * And they said unto 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 the gates thereof are burned with fire .' * And it came to pass , 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 , * and said : 'I beseech Thee , O LORD , the God of heaven , the great and awful God , that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments ; * let Thine ear now be attentive , and Thine eyes open , that Thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant , which I pray before Thee at this time , day and night , for the children of Israel Thy servants , while I confess the sins of the children of Israel , which we have sinned against Thee ; yea , I and my father 's house have sinned . * We have dealt very corruptly against Thee , and have not kept the commandments , nor the statutes , nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses . * Remember , I beseech Thee , the word that Thou didst command Thy servant Moses , saying : If ye deal treacherously , I will scatter you abroad among the peoples ; * but if ye return unto Me , and keep My commandments and do them , though your dispersed were in 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 cause My name to dwell there . * Now these are Thy servants and Thy people , whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power , and by Thy strong hand . * O Lord , I beseech Thee , let now Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant , and to the prayer of Thy servants , who delight to fear Thy name ; and prosper , I pray Thee , Thy servant this day , and grant him mercy in the sight of this man .' Now I was cupbearer to the king .

---