Nehemiah

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,

1These are the words of Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah. It was the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year. I was living in the strong walled city of Susa.

NoteChislev is a month in the Jewish calendar. It falls around our November and December. Susa was one of the main cities of the Persian kings.

2That 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.

2Hanani, one of my own family, came with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who were left after the enemy carried our people away. I also asked about the city of Jerusalem.

3And 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.

3They told me, "The people left there are in great trouble. Others shame them and make fun of them. The wall around Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire."

4And 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,

4When I heard this, I sat down and cried. I was sad for many days. I went without food, and I prayed to the God of heaven.

5And 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:

5I said, "LORD, God of heaven, You are great and awesome. You keep Your promise and Your love. You keep it for those who love You and obey Your commands."

NoteThe KJV says God is "terrible." In 1611 that meant awesome, someone so great that people feel wonder. It did not mean bad.

6Let 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.

6"Please listen closely and look at me. Hear the prayer I pray to You day and night. I pray for Your servants, the people of Israel. I tell You the sins we have done against You. My family and I have sinned too."

7We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

7"We have acted very badly toward You. We have not kept the commands, the rules, or the laws You gave Your servant Moses."

8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

8"Please remember what You told Your servant Moses. You said, 'If you turn away from me, I will scatter you among other nations.'"

9But 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.

9"'But if you come back to me and obey my commands, things will change. Even if you are pushed to the farthest place under the sky, I will gather you. I will bring you back to the place I chose for my name.'"

10Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

10"These people are Your servants. They belong to You. You set them free by Your great power and Your strong hand."

11O 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.

11"Lord, please listen to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of Your servants who are glad to honor You. Help me do well today. Make this man kind to me." At that time I was the king's cupbearer.

NoteA cupbearer brought the king his wine and tasted it first. It was a trusted job, done close beside the king.