1:1. The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.

And it came to pass in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the Shushan palace, 2. that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men of Judah and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said to me, The remnant of the captivity that is left there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down and its gates are burned with fire. 4. And it was, when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven, 5. and said, I be-seech you, LORD* God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, Who keeps covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him and observe His commandments. 6. Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open! So You can hear the prayer of Your servant, which I pray before You now, day and night for the children of Israel Your servants and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against You, both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7. We have dealt very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments or the statutes or the judgments, which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8. Remember, I beseech you, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses saying, If you act unfaithfully, I shall scatter you abroad among the peoples, 9. but if you turn to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though you were cast out into the outermost part of the heavens, yet I shall gather them from there and will bring them to the place that I have chosen to set My name there. 10. Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. 11. LORD*, I beseech You, let Your ear now be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants, who de-sire to revere Your name. And bring success, I pray You, to Your servant this day, and grant him compassion in the sight of this man.