1 The words of 1Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in 2the monthChislev, 3in the twentiethyear, while I was in 4Susa the [a]capitol,
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that 5Hanani, one of my brothers, and [b]some men from Judahcame; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and aboutJerusalem.
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They said to me, "The remnantthere in the 6provincewhosurvived the captivity are in greatdistress and 7reproach, and 8the wall of Jerusalem is brokendown and 9its gates are burned with fire."
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When I heardthesewords, 10I satdown and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and prayingbefore11the God of heaven.
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I said, "I beseech You, O LORDGod of heaven, 12the great and awesomeGod, 13who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
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14let Your earnow be attentive and Your eyesopen to hear the prayer of Your servantwhich I am prayingbefore You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, 15confessing the sins of the sons of Israelwhich we have sinned against You; 16I and my father'shouse have sinned.
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"17We have actedverycorruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances18which You commanded Your servantMoses.
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"Remember the wordwhich You commanded Your servantMoses, saying, '19If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples;
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20but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the mostremotepart of the heavens, I 21will gather them from there and will bring them 22to the placewhere* I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.'
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"23They are Your servants and Your peoplewhom You redeemed by Your greatpower and by Your stronghand.
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"OLord, I beseech You, 24may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [c]revere Your name, and make Your servantsuccessfultoday and grant him compassionbeforethisman." Now I was the 25cupbearer to the king.