Nehemiah:1

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* The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah . And it happened in the month Chisleu , in the twentieth year , as I was in Shushan the palace , * Hanani , one of my brothers , came , he and men of Judah . And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped , who were left of the captivity , and concerning Jerusalem . * And they said to me , The remnant left of the captivity there in the province [is ] in great affliction and shame . And the wall of Jerusalem [is ] broken down , and its gates are burned with fire . * And it happened when I heard these words , I sat down and wept . And I mourned [for ] days , and fasted , and prayed before the God of Heaven . * And I said , I pray You , O LORD God of Heaven , the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments ; * let Your ear now be open , and Your eyes open , so that You may hear the prayer of Your servant , which I pray before You now , day and night , for the sons of Israel Your servants , and confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You . Both I and my father 's house have sinned . * We have acted very wickedly against You , and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the judgments which You commanded Your servant Moses . * I pray You , remember the word that You commanded Your servant Moses , saying , [If ] you sin , I will scatter you among the nations , * but [if ] you turn to Me , and keep My commandments and do them , though you were cast out to the outermost part of the heavens , [yet ] I will gather you from there and will bring you to the place that I have chosen to set My name there . * And these [are ] Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand . * O LORD , I pray You , let now Your ear be open to the prayer of Your servant , and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name . And I pray You , bless Your servant today , and grant him mercy in the sight of this man . (For I was the king 's cupbearer .)

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