1The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. And it came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, that I was in Shushan the castle,
2And Hanani came, one of my brothers, he and men (ish) from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews, the escaped remnant who were left from the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3And they said to me, "Those left, who remain from the captivity there in the province, are in great evil and in reproach; and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."
4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven,
5and I said, "I beseech, YHWH God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant (berit) and lovingkindness for those who love him and for those who keep his commandments (mitzvah);
6let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant which I am praying before you today, 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 have sinned.
7We have surely dealt corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments (mitzvah) and the statutes (chuqqim) and the judgments (mishpat) which you commanded (tzivvah) Moses your servant.
8Remember now the word which you commanded (tzivvah) Moses your servant, saying, 'You, if you act treacherously, I will scatter you among the peoples;
9but if you return to me and keep my commandments (mitzvah) and do them — though your outcasts be at the end of the heavens, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place which I have chosen to cause my name to dwell there.'
10And they are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
11I beseech, my Lord (Adonai), let your ear now be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name; and prosper, I pray, your servant today, and grant him mercies before this man (ish)." Now I was cupbearer to the king.