The words of Nechemyâh (נְחֶמְיָה) the son of Chăkalyâh (חֲכַלְיָה). And it came to pass in the month Kislêw (כִּסְלֵו), in the twentieth year, as I was in Shûshan the palace,
That Chănânı̂y (חֲנָנִי), one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Yahûdâh (יְהוּדָה); and I asked them concerning the Yahûdı̂y (יְהוּדִי) that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Yerûshâlaim.
And they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Yerûshâlaim also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים) of heaven,
And said, I beseech you, O YAHUAH (יהוה) ĔLÔHÎYM (אֱלֹהִים) of heaven, the great and terrible ÊL (אֵל), that keeps covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now, day and night, for the children of Yâshârêl your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Yâshârêl, which we have sinned against you: both I and my father's house have sinned.
We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded your servant Môsheh (מֹשֶׁה).
Remember, I beseech you, the word that you commanded your servant Môsheh, saying, if you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
But if you turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.
O ĂDÔNÂY (אֲדֹנָי), I beseech you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who desire to fear your name: and prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
