Nehemiah 1 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Nehemiah Prays for the Sons of Israel

1 The words ^H1697 of Nehemiah ^H5166 the son ^H1121 of Hacaliah ^H2446.

Now it happened ^H1961 in the month ^H2320 Chislev ^H3691, in the twentieth ^H6242 year ^H8141—and I was in Susa ^H7800 the [fn]capitol ^H1002—

2 that Hanani ^H2607, one ^H259 of my brothers ^H251, and [fn]some men ^H376 from Judah ^H3063 came ^H935; and I asked ^H7592 them concerning ^H5921 the Jews ^H3064 who had escaped ^H6413 and remain ^H7604 from the captivity ^H7628, and about ^H5921 Jerusalem ^H3389. 3 They said ^H559 to me, “The remnant ^H7604 there ^H8033 in the province ^H4082 who ^H834 remain ^H7604 from the captivity ^H7628 are in great ^H1419 calamity ^H7451 and reproach ^H2781, and the wall ^H2346 of Jerusalem ^H3389 is broken ^H6555 down ^H6555 and its gates ^H8179 are burned ^H3341 with fire ^H784.”

4 Now it happened that when I heard ^H8085 these ^H428 words ^H1697, I sat ^H3427 down ^H3427 and wept ^H1058 and mourned ^H56 for days ^H3117; and I was fasting ^H6684 and praying ^H6419 before ^H6440 the God ^H430 of heaven ^H8064. 5 I said ^H559, “I beseech ^H577 You, O [fn]Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of heaven ^H8064, the great ^H1419 and fearsome ^H3372 God ^H410, who keeps ^H8104 the covenant ^H1285 and lovingkindness ^H2617 for those who love ^H157 Him and keep ^H8104 His commandments ^H4687, 6 let Your ear ^H241 now ^H4994 be attentive ^H7183 and Your eyes ^H5869 open ^H6605 to hear ^H8085 the prayer ^H8605 of Your slave ^H5650 which ^H834 I am praying ^H6419 before ^H6440 You today ^H3117, day ^H3119 and night ^H3915, on ^H5921 behalf ^H5921 of ^H5921 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 Your slaves ^H5650, confessing ^H3034 the sins ^H2403 of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 which ^H834 we have sinned ^H2398 against You; I and my father’s ^H1 house ^H1004 have sinned ^H2398. 7 We have worked ^H2254 in utter ^H2254 destruction ^H2254 against You and have not kept ^H8104 the commandments ^H4687, nor ^H3808 the statutes ^H2706, nor ^H3808 the judgments ^H4941 which ^H834 You commanded ^H6680 Your [fn]servant ^H5650 Moses ^H4872. 8 Remember ^H2142 the word ^H1697 which ^H834 You commanded ^H6680 Your [fn]servant ^H5650 Moses ^H4872, saying ^H559, ‘If you are ^H4603 unfaithful ^H4603, I will scatter ^H6327 you among the peoples ^H5971; 9 but if you return ^H7725 to Me and keep ^H8104 My commandments ^H4687 and do ^H6213 them, though ^H518 those of you who have been banished ^H5080 were at the ends ^H7097 of the sky ^H8064, I will gather ^H6908 them from there ^H8033 and will bring ^H935 them to the place ^H4725 where ^H834 H8033 I have chosen ^H977 to cause My name ^H8034 to dwell ^H7931.’ 10 They are Your slaves ^H5650 and Your people ^H5971 whom ^H834 You redeemed ^H6299 by Your great ^H1419 power ^H3581 and by Your strong ^H2389 hand ^H3027. 11 O ^H577 Lord ^H136, I beseech ^H577 You, may Your ear ^H241 be attentive ^H7183 to the prayer ^H8605 of Your slave ^H5650 and the prayer ^H8605 of Your slaves ^H5650 who delight ^H2655 to fear ^H3372 Your name ^H8034, and make ^H6743 Your slave ^H5650 successful ^H6743 today ^H3117 and grant ^H5414 him compassion ^H7356 before ^H6440 this ^H2088 man ^H376.”

Now I was the cupbearer ^H4945 to the king ^H4428.