Nehemiah’s Prayer
(Deuteronomy 30:1–10)
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: Neh 10:1Zec 7:1Est 1:2Dan 8:2Ezr 7:7Est 3:15Ezr 10:9Neh 2:1
In the month of Chislev, 1 in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. Neh 7:2Ezk 6:9Ezk 24:26-27Ezk 7:16Ezr 9:14Ezr 9:8-9Jer 44:14Psa 122:6-9
And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” Neh 2:172Ki 25:10Ezr 5:8Neh 2:13Neh 2:3Neh 7:6Neh 9:36-371Ki 9:7
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Dan 9:3Psa 137:1Ezr 10:1Neh 2:4Psa 102:13-14Psa 69:9-10Zep 3:18Dan 2:18
Then I said: Exo 20:6Dan 9:4-19Deu 7:21Deu 7:9Neh 4:141Ki 8:23Heb 6:13-18Neh 9:32
“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion 2with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. Dan 9:20Dan 9:4Psa 34:15Psa 106:6Dan 9:17-182Ch 29:62Ch 6:40Isa 6:5
I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses. Dan 9:5-6Dan 9:11Dan 9:13Psa 106:61Ki 2:32Ch 25:42Ch 27:2Deu 28:14-15
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, Deu 28:64Deu 4:25-27Lev 26:33-461Ki 9:6-7Deu 32:26-28Luk 1:72Psa 119:49 but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, 3 I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ 4 Jer 29:11-14Deu 30:2-5Deu 4:29-31Jer 32:37Lev 26:39-42Deu 12:5Ezr 6:12Isa 56:8
They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. Deu 9:29Dan 9:15-27Exo 32:11Deu 15:15Exo 13:9Exo 15:13Exo 6:1Isa 63:16-19 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants 5who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Neh 1:6Neh 2:8Neh 2:1Pro 21:1Heb 13:18Ezr 7:6Psa 130:2Psa 86:6
(At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)