Nehemiah 1 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the fortress city of Susa,

Hanani, one of my brothers, came with some men from Judah. I asked them about the Jewish survivors who had made it through the exile, and about Jerusalem itself.

They told me, "The survivors back in the province are in serious trouble and deeply shamed. Jerusalem's wall is broken down and its gates have been burned to nothing."

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. I grieved for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

I said, "Yahweh, God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his covenant and shows loyal love to those who love him and keep his commands —

please, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, hearing the prayer your servant is praying before you right now, day and night, for the people of Israel who serve you. I'm confessing the failures of the people of Israel — failures we've committed against you. Both I and my father's family have failed you.

We have acted with deep corruption toward you. We haven't kept the commands, the laws, or the rulings you gave your servant Moses.

"Remember the word you gave your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations.

But if you come back to me and keep my commands and do them, then even if your exiled people are at the far edges of the sky, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I chose for my name to live.'

"They are your servants and your people, the ones you rescued by your great power and your strong hand.

"Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayers of your servants who want nothing more than to honor your name. Give your servant success today — let this man show me kindness." I was the king's cupbearer.