Nehemiah’s Prayer

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev^(A) in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,^{(B) 2} Hanani,^(C) one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant^(D) that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.^(E)”

⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.^(F) For some days I mourned and fasted^(G) and prayed before the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I said:

I was cupbearer^(U) to the king.

⁴ The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven,

⁴ Hear us, our God, for we are despised.^(A) Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.

⁹ But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

⁹ They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

¹⁴ Remember^(A) Tobiah and Sanballat,^(B) my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet^(C) Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets^(D) have been trying to intimidate me.

¹⁹ Remember^(A) me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.

¹⁴ Remember^(A) me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

²² Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Remember^(A) me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.