Nehemiah 1:4-9

English Standard Version

Nehemiah's Prayer

⁴ As soon as I heard these words I ^(A)sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the ^(B)God of heaven. ⁵ And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, ^(C)the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ^6 (D)let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, ^(E)confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even ^(F)I and my father's house have sinned. ^7 (G)We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules ^(H)that you commanded your servant Moses. ⁸ Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, ^(I)I will scatter you among the peoples, ^9 (J)but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, ^(K)though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them ^(L)to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’