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1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I myself was in the fortress of Susa,
2 that came one from my brothers, Hanani, he with some people from Judah, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped, the remnant of the Jews who were there, and about Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me, “Those remaining there in the province who survived after the captivity are in great trouble and in disgrace because the wall of Jerusalem has been broken open, and its gates have been set on fire.”
4 And so it was when I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and for days I continued grieving and I was fasting and praying before the face of the God of heaven.
5 Then I said, “Please, Yahweh, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and who keep his commandments.
6 Please let your ears be attentive to, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying before your face day by day and night for the sons of Israel your servants, and confessing the sins of the sons of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and the house of my father, we have sinned.
7 Wickedly, wickedly we have acted against you, and we have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the rules which you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Please recall the word which you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘When you yourselves act unfaithfully, I myself will scatter you among the nations,
9 but when you return to me and you follow my commandments and you do them, even if he, the one you exiled, was under the most distant heavens, I will gather them from there and I will bring them there, to the place where I have chosen to establish my name.’
10 Now they are your servants and your people, whom you have rescued by your great power and by your strong hand.
11 Please, my Lord, please may it be that your ear is attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants, the ones who delight to honor your name. Now please give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I myself was cupbearer to the king.
The Book of Nehemiah