1 W ords of Nehemiah son of Hachaliah. And it cometh to pass, in the month of Chisleu, the twentieth year, and I have been in Shushan the palace,

The words or story of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: Now in the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle of Shushan,

2 a nd come in doth Hanani, one of my brethren, he and men of Judah, and I ask them concerning the Jews, the escaped part that have been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;

Hanani, one of my kinsmen, came with certain men from Judah, and I asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped exile, and about Jerusalem.

3 a nd they say to me, `Those left, who have been left of the captivity there in the province, in great evil, and in reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burnt with fire.'

And they said to me, The remnant there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.

4 A nd it cometh to pass, at my hearing these words, I have sat down, and I weep and mourn days, and I am fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.

When I heard this, I sat down and wept and mourned for days and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,

5 A nd I say, `I beseech thee, O Jehovah, God of the heavens, God, the great and the fearful, keeping the covenant and kindness for those loving Him, and for those keeping His commands,

And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, Who keeps covenant, loving-kindness, and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

6 l et Thine ear be, I pray Thee, attentive, and Thine eyes open, to hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, that I am praying before Thee to-day, by day and by night, concerning the sons of Israel Thy servants, and confessing concerning the sins of the sons of Israel, that we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and the house of my father have sinned;

Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to listen to the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You day and night for the Israelites, Your servants, confessing the sins of the Israelites which we have sinned against You. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.

7 w e have acted very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments, that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant.

We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

8 ` Remember, I pray Thee, the word that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant, saying, Ye -- ye trespass -- I scatter you among peoples;

Remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: If you transgress and are unfaithful, I will scatter you abroad among the nations;

9 a nd ye have turned back unto Me, and kept My commands, and done them -- if your outcast is in the end of the heavens, thence I gather them, and have brought them in unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to tabernacle there.

But if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the farthest part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there and will bring them to the place in which I have chosen to set My Name.

10 A nd they Thy servants, and Thy people, whom Thou hast ransomed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong 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 Lord, let, I pray Thee, Thine ear be attentive unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto the prayer of Thy servants, those delighting to fear Thy Name; and give prosperity, I pray Thee, to Thy servant to-day, and give him for mercies before this man;' and I have been butler to the king.

O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere and fear Your name (Your nature and attributes); and prosper, I pray You, Your servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was cupbearer to the king.