Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa, received word from his brother Hanani that Jerusalem’s walls were broken down and its gates burned. Nehemiah wept, fasted, and prayed, confessing Israel’s sins and asking God for favor before the king.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,	The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was at the citadel of Shushan,
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.	Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.
3	And they said unto 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 the gates thereof are burned with fire.	They said to me, "The survivors who are left from the exile in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
4	And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,	When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for several days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5	And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:	I said, "LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, Who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments —
6	Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before 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's house have sinned.	let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer Your servant prays before You day and night for the people of Israel. I confess the sins we have committed against You — yes, I and my father's house have sinned.
7	We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.	We have acted very corruptly against you. We have not kept the commandments, statutes, and judgments you commanded your servant Moses.
8	Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:	Please remember the word you commanded your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples;
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.	but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, then even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to dwell.'
10	Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.	These are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and your strong hand.
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's cupbearer.	O Lord, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him favor in the presence of this man." For I was the king's cupbearer.