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Nehemiah's Prayer for Jerusalem

Nehemiah 1:1-11

1
Chapter 1
1 Words of Nehemiah son of Hilkiah. And it was in the month Kislev, year twenty, and I was in Susa the citadel. 2 And he came, Hanani one of my brothers—he—and men from Judah, and I asked them about the Jews, the escapees who remained from the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, "The remnant who remained from the captivity there in the province are in great moral evil/knowledge of good and evil and reproach/shame, and the wall of Jerusalem is breached and its gates have been burned in fire as divine manifestation or judgment." 4 And it was when I heard these words that I sat and wept and mourned for days and fasted and prayed before the God of the heavens. 5 And I said, "Please, LORD God of the heavens, the great and awesome God, keeper of the covenant and steadfast love to those who love him and to the keepers of his commandments." 6 May your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant which I am praying before you 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. And I and the house of my father have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly; we have acted corruptly against you, and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded Moses your servant. 8 Remember, please, the word that you commanded Moses your servant, saying, "You will be unfaithful; I will scatter you among the peoples." 9 and you return to the LORD and keep my commandments and do them; if you are scattered at the ends of the heavens, from there I will gather you and bring you to the place that I have chosen to dwell my name there. 10 And they are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed with your great power and with your strong hand. 11 Please, Lord, be attentive; turn your ear to the prayer of your servant and to the prayers of your servants who desire to fear your name. And prosper, please, your servant today and give him compassion before this man. And I was cupbearer to the king.