2
That Hanani,one of my brethren,came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3
And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in greataffliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
5
And said, I beseech thee, O LORDGod of heaven, the great and terribleGod, that keepethcovenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
6
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyesopen, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I praybefore thee now,day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father'shouse have sinned.
7
We have dealt verycorruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servantMoses.
9
But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto 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 set my name there.
11
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 desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king'scupbearer.