Neh 1
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The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev,
in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
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that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked
them concerning the Jews that had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem.
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And they said to me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province
are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and
its gates are burned with fire.
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And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned
certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
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and said, I beseech you, O YHWH, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that
keeps covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments:
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Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hearken to the prayer
of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children
of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which
we have sinned against you. Yea, I and my father`s house have sinned:
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we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor
the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
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Remember, I beseech you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If
you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples:
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but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts
were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and
will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.
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Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great
power, and by your strong hand.
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O Lord, I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant,
and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and prosper, I
pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now
I was cupbearer to the king.