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1. These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: I, Nehemiah, was in the capital city of Susa in the month of Kislev. This was in the 20 year that Artaxerxes was king.
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1. The words H1697 of Nehemiah H5166 the son H1121 of Hachaliah H2446 . And it came to pass H1961 in the month H2320 Chisleu H3691 , in the twentieth H6242 year H8141 , as I H589 was H1961 in Shushan H7800 the palace H1002 ,
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2. While I was in Susa, one of my brothers named Hanani and some other men came from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped captivity and still lived in Judah. I also asked them about the city of Jerusalem.
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2. That Hanani H2607 , one H259 of my brethren H4480 H251 , came H935 , he H1931 and certain men H376 of Judah H4480 H3063 ; and I asked H7592 them concerning H5921 the Jews H3064 that had escaped H6413 , which H834 were left H7604 of H4480 the captivity H7628 , and concerning H5921 Jerusalem H3389 .
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3. They answered, "Nehemiah, the Jews who escaped captivity and are in the land of Judah are in much trouble. They are having many problems and are full of shame because the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."
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3. And they said H559 unto me , The remnant H7604 that H834 are left H7604 of H4480 the captivity H7628 there H8033 in the province H4082 are in great H1419 affliction H7451 and reproach H2781 : the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 also is broken down H6555 , and the gates H8179 thereof are burned H3341 with fire H784 .
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4. When I heard this about the people of Jerusalem and about the wall, I sat down and cried. I was very sad. I fasted and prayed to the God of Heaven for several days.
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4. And it came to pass H1961 , when I heard H8085 H853 these H428 words H1697 , that I sat down H3427 and wept H1058 , and mourned H56 certain days H3117 , and fasted H1961 H6684 , and prayed H6419 before H6440 the God H430 of heaven H8064 ,
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5. Then I prayed this prayer: "Lord, God of Heaven, you are the great and powerful God. You are the God who keeps his agreement of love with people who love you and obey your commands.
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5. And said H559 , I beseech H577 thee , O LORD H3068 God H430 of heaven H8064 , the great H1419 and terrible H3372 God H410 , that keepeth H8104 covenant H1285 and mercy H2617 for them that love H157 him and observe H8104 his commandments H4687 :
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6. "Please open your eyes and ears and listen to the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night. I am praying for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we Israelites have done against you. I am confessing that I have sinned against you and that the other people in my father's family have sinned against you.
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6. Let thine ear H241 now H4994 be H1961 attentive H7183 , and thine eyes H5869 open H6605 , that thou mayest hear H8085 H413 the prayer H8605 of thy servant H5650 , which H834 I H595 pray H6419 before H6440 thee now H3117 , day H3119 and night H3915 , for H5921 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 thy servants H5650 , and confess H3034 H5921 the sins H2403 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , which H834 we have sinned H2398 against thee : both I H589 and my father H1 's house H1004 have sinned H2398 .
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7. We Israelites have been very bad to you. We have not obeyed the commands, rules, and laws you gave your servant Moses.
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7. We have dealt very corruptly H2254 H2254 against thee , and have not H3808 kept H8104 H853 the commandments H4687 , nor the statutes H2706 , nor the judgments H4941 , which H834 thou commandedst H6680 H853 thy servant H5650 Moses H4872 .
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8. "Please remember the teaching you gave your servant Moses. You said to him, 'If you Israelites are not faithful, I will force you to be scattered among the other nations.
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8. Remember H2142 , I beseech H4994 thee, H853 the word H1697 that H834 thou commandedst H6680 H853 thy servant H5650 Moses H4872 , saying H559 , If ye H859 transgress H4603 , I H589 will scatter you abroad H6327 H853 among the nations H5971 :
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9. But if you Israelites come back to me and obey my commands, this is what I will do: Even if your people have been forced to leave their homes and go to the ends of the earth, I will gather them from there. And I will bring them back to the place I have chosen to put my name.'
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9. But if ye turn H7725 unto H413 me , and keep H8104 my commandments H4687 , and do H6213 them; though H518 there were H1961 of you cast out H5080 unto the uttermost part H7097 of the heaven H8064 , yet will I gather H6908 them from thence H4480 H8033 , and will bring H935 them unto H413 the place H4725 that H834 I have chosen H977 to set H7931 H853 my name H8034 there H8033 .
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10. "The Israelites are your servants and your people. You used your great power and rescued them.
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10. Now these H1992 are thy servants H5650 and thy people H5971 , whom H834 thou hast redeemed H6299 by thy great H1419 power H3581 , and by thy strong H2389 hand H3027 .
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11. So, Lord, please listen to my prayer. I am your servant. Please listen to the prayers of your servants who want to show respect for your name. You know I am the king's wine servant, so please help me today. Help me as I ask the king for help. Give me success and help me to be pleasing to the king."
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11. O Lord H136 , I beseech H577 thee , let now H4994 thine ear H241 be H1961 attentive H7183 to H413 the prayer H8605 of thy servant H5650 , and to H413 the prayer H8605 of thy servants H5650 , who desire H2655 to fear H3372 H853 thy name H8034 : and prosper H6743 , I pray H4994 thee , thy servant H5650 this day H3117 , and grant H5414 him mercy H7356 in the sight H6440 of this H2088 man H376 . For I H589 was H1961 the king H4428 's cupbearer H4945 .
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