Nehemiah 1:1-7:3

Nehemiah 1:1-7:3

[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,  [2] That Hanani,  one  of my brethren,  came,  of Judah;  and I asked  them concerning the Jews  that had escaped,  which were left  of the captivity,  and concerning Jerusalem.  [3] And they said  unto me, The remnant  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.  [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,  [5] And said,  I beseech  God  of heaven,  the great  and terrible  God,  that keepeth  covenant  and mercy  for them that love  him and observe  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.  [7] We have dealt very  against thee, and have not kept  the commandments,  nor the statutes,  nor the judgments,  which thou commandedst  thy servant  Moses.