Nehemiah’s Prayer

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying(A) before the God of heaven.(B) I said,(C)

Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him(D) and keep His commands,(E) let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive(F) to hear Your servant’s prayer that I now pray to You day and night(G) for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins[a] we have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.(H) We have acted corruptly toward You and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances You gave Your servant Moses.(I) Please remember what You commanded Your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples.(J) But if you return to Me and carefully observe My commands, even though your exiles were banished to the ends of the earth,[b] I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have My name dwell.”(K) 10 They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and strong hand.(L) 11 Please, Lord, let Your ear be attentive(M) to the prayer of Your servant and to that of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success today,(N) and have compassion on him in the presence of this man.[c](O)

At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.(P)

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Notas al pie

  1. Nehemiah 1:6 Lit sins of the Israelites
  2. Nehemiah 1:9 Lit skies
  3. Nehemiah 1:11 = the king

Confession

When I heard this news, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I said:

Lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, you are the one who keeps covenant and is truly faithful to those who love you and keep your commandments. Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant, which I now pray before you night and day for your servants, the people of Israel.

“I confess the sins of the people of Israel, which we have committed against you. Both I and my family have sinned. We have wronged you greatly. We haven’t kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses.

“Remember the word that you gave to your servant Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to me and keep my commandments by really doing them, then, even though your outcasts live[a] under distant skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.’ 10 They are your servants and your people. They are the ones whom you have redeemed by your great power and your strong hand.

11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in honoring your name. Please give success to your servant today and grant him favor in the presence of this man!”

Cupbearer’s plea

At that time, I was a cupbearer to the king.

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Notas al pie

  1. Nehemiah 1:9 Heb lacks live.