Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah’s Prayer · Nehemiah 1:1–11
Read Nehemiah 1

Translations

Modern
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Traditional
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,
Literal
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I was fasting and praying before the face of the God of the heavens,
Latin
Cumque audissem verba hujuscemodi, sedi, et flevi, et luxi diebus multis: jejunabam, et orabam ante faciem Dei cæli:

Original

Hebrew
English
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Notes

Nehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed for about four months (compare Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1), deeply worried about Jerusalem.

When Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem's ruins, he prayed for God's help (Nehemiah 1:1–11) and asked the king to send him to Jerusalem (2:1–8). Upon arrival, he urged the people to rebuild the city's wall (Nehemiah 2:11–20).

Parallels

Deuteronomy 30:1–10

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Fast, Fasting Jerusalem Nehemiah (Person) Postexilic Period Susa

Topics

Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: Nehemiah Compassion and Sympathy: Nehemiah Country: Love of Fasting of Nehemiah, on Account of the Desolation of Jerusalem and the Temple Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Nehemiah Intercession: Additional Instances of Nehemiah, in Behalf of Judah and Jerusalem Intercessory Prayer: Nehemiah Jerusalem: The Jews: Lamented the Affliction of Judgments: should Lead to Contrition Nation: Lamented Prayer: Accompanied With: Confession Prayer: Accompanied With: Fasting Prayer: Importunity In