Word Comes of Jerusalem's Ruin
The walls of Jerusalem lie in rubble, and Nehemiah leads the people to rebuild them. At the center is a great prayer recalling a Father who sustained His people through every wilderness.
1 1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the citadel of Susa, a a v1 Kislev was the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, falling in late November to December.
2Hanani, one of my brothers, came with men from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who survived, who were left from the exile, and about Jerusalem. 3They told me, "The remnant left from the captivity, there in the province, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem's wall is broken down, its gates burned with fire."
4Hearing these words, I sat and wept, mourning for days, fasting and praying before our Father in heaven. 5I said: Please, my Father in heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loyal love with those who love him and keep his commands, 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear this prayer I, your servant, pray before you now, day and night, for Israel, your servants—confessing the sins we Israelites have sinned against you. I and my father's house have sinned. 7We have wronged you deeply, not keeping the commands, statutes, and rulings you commanded your servant Moses.
8Please remember your instruction to your servant Moses: "If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9but if you return to me, keep my commands, and do them, even if your exiles are at the far edge of the heavens, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I chose to make my name dwell there."
10They are your servants, your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11Please, my Sovereign Father, may your ear attend to your servant's prayer, and to your servants' prayer—those who delight to fear your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him mercy before this man. I was cupbearer to the king at that time.
