Nehemiah’s Prayer (Deuteronomy 30:1–10)
2 UST Hanani, one of my brothers, came to see me, along with some other people from the province of Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and remained in Judah{ many years earlier} when soldiers had forced many Jews to go{ to Babylon}. I also asked about{ the condition of} the city of Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah. So I questioned them about the remnant of the Jews who had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.
3 UST They said to me,“The Jews who escaped the exile and remained in the province of Judah are in a desperate situation.{ The Babylonian soldiers} broke down the wall of Jerusalem{ to get into the city}, and{ they} burned down all of its gates. The people{ living there} are defenseless.” BSB BSB: And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
4 UST When I heard about these things, I sat down and cried. I could not stop mourning for days. I went without food, and I prayed to the God who is in heaven. BSB BSB: When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 UST I said,“O Yahweh, you are the God who is in heaven. You are the great and awesome God. You always keep your promises faithfully to those who love you and obey your commandments. BSB BSB: Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,
6 UST Now please pay careful attention and listen to my prayer that I am praying to you now, as I have been constantly, for the people of Israel, your chosen people. I must confess the sins that we, the people of Israel, have committed against you. Both I and my family have also sinned. BSB BSB: let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 UST We have acted very wickedly toward you.{ Many years ago} you gave us your Law through your servant Moses. But we have not obeyed your Law. BSB BSB: We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses.
8 UST Please call to mind the promise that you made to your servant Moses. You told him,‘If you Israelites do not obey my commandments, I will take you from your land and make you live among the other nations. BSB BSB: Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,
9 UST But if you become loyal to me again and start obeying my commandments once more, then I will bring you back to{ your homeland of Judah}. That is the place{ from} which I chose to start making myself famous throughout the world. I will do this no matter how far you have been taken away.’ BSB BSB: but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’
10 UST We are your chosen people, whom you rescued{ from slavery in Egypt}.{ You did that easily because} you are so very powerful. BSB BSB: They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand.
11 UST O my Lord, please pay careful attention to my prayer and to the prayers of{ my fellow Israelites}. We are eager to honor you. Please grant that the king{ will agree to the request that I hope to make soon}.” At that time, I was{ an important official who served the wine at} the king’ s{ table}. BSB BSB: O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.