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Nehemiah

Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and reforms the community.

Chapter 1

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1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

*Nehemiah, son of Hachaliah, spoke these words. This happened in the month Chisleu, during the 20th year. While I was in Shushan, the royal palace.

2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

*Hanani, a relative of mine, arrived with some people from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who survived and those still in captivity, as well as what was happening in Jerusalem.

3 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 Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

*They told me that the people still in the area are struggling and disgraced. The wall of Jerusalem is broken, and its gates have been burnt by fire.

4 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 God of heaven,

*When I heard these words, I sat down, cried, felt sad for some days, didn't eat, talked to God, the God in heaven.

5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

*And he asked, "Please, O Lord, God of heaven, the powerful and fearsome God who keeps promises and kindness for those who love him and follow his rules."

6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.

*Listen carefully with your ears and keep your eyes open so you can hear my prayer for you. I am praying for the people of Israel who are your servants. They have done wrong things against you, and not only them, but my family too. We all have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

*We've treated you badly and didn't follow the rules or decisions you gave through Moses, your servant.

8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

*Remember, please, the command you gave to your servant Moses: if you disobey, I will send you away to different countries.

9 But if ye 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.

*But if you listen to me, follow my rules, and do them, even if you're sent far away in space, I'll bring you back and take you to the special place where I want my name to be.

10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

*Now, these are the people you have saved, using your great strength and powerful hand.

11 O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

*Dear Lord, please listen carefully to my prayer and the prayers of your other servants who want to respect your name. Please help and show mercy to your servant today. I used to be the king's cupbearer.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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