The words of Nechemyah son of Ḥakalyah. And it came to pass in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Shushan the capital.

And Ḥanani, one of my brothers, he and men from Yehudah came, and I asked them concerning the Yehudim, the survivors, who had remained from the captivity, and concerning Yerushalayim.

And they said to me, 'The survivors who have remained from the captivity there in the province are in great distress and in shame, and the wall of Yerushalayim is broken down, and its gates have been consumed by fire.'

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, I sat and I wept and I mourned for days, and I was fasting and praying before the Elohim of the heavens.

And I said, 'Please, יהוה, Elohim of the heavens, the great and awesome El, who keeps covenant and steadfast love for those who love Him and for those who keep His commandments.'

'Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant, which I am praying before You this day, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Yisra'el, Your servants, and I confess concerning the sins of the sons of Yisra'el, which we have sinned against You. And I and my father's house have sinned.'

'We have acted corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which You commanded Your servant Mosheh.'

'Remember, please, the word which You commanded Your servant Mosheh, saying, 'You will be unfaithful; I will scatter you among the peoples.'

'And you will return to Me and keep My commandments and do them. If your outcasts are at the ends of the heavens, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place which I have chosen to cause My Name to dwell there.'

'And they are Your servants and Your people, whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.'

'Please, Adonai, let Your ear now be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and to the prayer of Your servants who delight to fear Your Name. And please make Your servant successful today, and grant him mercy before this man.' And I was the cupbearer to the king.