Grief and Prayer for Jerusalem
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah, cupbearer in the Persian court, hears from his brother Hanani that Jerusalem's walls lie broken and its gates burned, and he responds with days of weeping, fasting, and prayer, confessing the sins of his people and asking the Lord to grant him favor before the king.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHE words of Nehemias, son of Chelkia.
BrentonThe words of Neemias the son of Chelcia. And it came to pass in the month Chaseleu, of the twentieth year, that I was in Susan the palace.
GreekΛΟΓΟΙ Νεεμία υἱοῦ Χελκία. Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν μηνὶ Χασελεῦ ἔτους εἰκοστοῦ, καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμηνν ἐν Σουσὰν ἀβιρά·
KJVThe 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,
JPSTHE WORDS of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the castle,
2
ThomsonIn the month Chaseleu of the twentieth year, when I was at Susanabira, Anani, one of my brethren, came with certain men of Juda, and I inquired of them concerning the remnant who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem;
BrentonAnd Anani, one of my brethren, came, he and some men of Juda; and I asked them concerning those that had escaped, who had been left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
Greekκαὶ ἦλθεν Ἀνανὶ εἷς ἀπὸ ἀδελφῶν μου, αὐτὸς καὶ ἄνδρες Ἰούδα· καὶ ἠρώτησα αὐτοὺς περὶ τῶν σωθέντων, οἳ κατελείθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας, καὶ περὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVThat 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.
JPSthat Hanani, one of my brethren, came out of Judah, he and certain men; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3
Thomsonand they informed me that the remnant of the captivity who were left, were in that country in great affliction and reproach, and that the walls of Jerusalem continued demolished, and that the gates thereof were burned with fire.
BrentonAnd they said to me, The remnant, even those that are left of the captivity, are there in the land, in great distress and reproach: and the walls of Jerusalem are thrown down, and its gates are burnt with fire.
GreekΚαὶ εἴποσαν πρὸς μέ, Οἱ καταλειπόμενοι οἱ καταλειφθέντες ἀπὸ τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας ἐκεῖ ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ, ἐν πονηρίᾳ μεγάλῃ καὶ ἐν ὀνειδισμῷ, καὶ τείχη Ἱερουσαλὴμ καθῃρημένα, καὶ αἱ πύλαι αὐτῆς ἐνεπρήσθησαν ἐν πυρί.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.’
4
ThomsonUpon hearing this report, I sat down and wept and mourned some days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven,
BrentonAnd it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for several days, and continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαί με τοὺς λόγους τούτους, ἐκάθισα καὶ ἔκλαυσα καὶ ἐπένθησα ἡμέρας, καὶ ἤμην νηστεύων καὶ προσευχόμενος ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.
KJVAnd 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,
JPSAnd it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
5
Thomsonand I said, I beseech Thee, O Lord, God of heaven, the Mighty, the Great and the Awful, who keepest Thy covenant and Thy mercy with them who love Thee and keep Thy commandments,
BrentonAnd I said, Nay, I pray thee, O Lord God of heaven, the mighty, the great and terrible, keeping thy covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to those that keep his commandments:
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, μὴ δὴ Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ὁ ἰσχυρὸς, ὁ μέγας καὶ φοβερὸς, φυλάσσων τὴν διαθήκην καὶ τὸ ἔλεός σου τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν καὶ τοῖς φυλάσσουσι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ·
KJVAnd 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:
JPSand said: ‘I beseech Thee, O LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awful God, that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments;
6
Thomsonlet Thine ear, I beseech Thee, be attentive, and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayst hear the prayer of Thy servant which I now make before Thee day and night, for the children of Israel Thy servants, and plead for their sins which we have committed against Thee. Both I and my father’s house have sinned against Thee.
Brentonlet now thine ear be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, this day both day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and make confession for the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and the house of my father have sinned.
GreekἜστω δὴ τὸ οὖς σου προσέχον, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ἀνεῳγμένοι, τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι προσευχὴν τοῦ δούλου σου, ἣν ἐγὼ προσεύχομαι ἐνώπιόν σου σήμερον ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτα περὶ υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ δούλων σου· καὶ ἐξαγορεύω ἐπὶ ἁμαρτίαις υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ αἷς ἡμάρτομέν σοι· καὶ ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ οἶκος πατρός μου ἡμάρτομεν.
KJVLet 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.
JPSlet Thine ear now be attentive, and Thine eyes open, that Thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, which I pray before Thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel Thy servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against Thee; yea, I and my father’s house have sinned.
7
ThomsonWe have broken covenant with Thee, and have not kept the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Thou gavest in charge to Thy servant Moses.
BrentonWe have altogether broken covenant with thee, and we have not kept the commandments, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which thou didst command thy servant Moses.
GreekΔιαλύσει διελύσαμεν πρὸς σὲ, καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξαμεν τὰς ἐντολὰς καὶ τὰ προστάγματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα, ἃ ἐνετείλω τῷ Μωυσῇ παιδί σου.
KJVWe have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
JPSWe have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses.
8
ThomsonRemember, I beseech Thee, the word which Thou didst give in charge to Moses Thy servant, saying, When you break covenant with Me, and I scatter you among the nations;
BrentonRemember, I pray thee, the word wherewith thou didst charge thy servant Moses, saying, If ye break covenant with me, I will disperse you among the nations.
GreekΜνήσθητι δὴ τὸν λόγον ὃν ἐνετείλω τῷ Μωυσῇ παιδί σου, λέγων, ὑμεῖς ἐὰν ἀσυνθετήσητε, ἐγὼ διασκορπιῶ ὑμᾶς ἐν τοῖς λαοῖς·
KJVRemember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
JPSRemember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying: If ye deal treacherously, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;
9
Thomsonif you then return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersion may be to the farthest part of heaven, thence I will gather them and bring them to the place which I have chosen for My name to dwell there.
BrentonBut if ye turn again to me, and keep my commandments, and do them; if ye should be scattered under the utmost bound of heaven, thence will I gather them, and I will bring them into the place which I have chosen to cause my name to dwell there.
Greekκαὶ ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψητε πρὸς μὲ, καὶ φυλάξητε τὰς ἐντολάς μου, καὶ ποιήσητε αὐτὰς, ἐὰν ᾖ ἡ διασπορὰ ὑμῶν ἀπʼ ἄκρου τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ἐκεῖθεν συνάξω αὐτοὺς, καὶ εἰσάξω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν τόπον, ὃν ἐξελεξάμην κατασκηνῶσαι τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐκεῖ.
KJVBut 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.
JPSbut if ye return unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were in 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 cause My name to dwell there.
10
ThomsonNow they are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy great power, and with Thy strong hand.
BrentonNow they are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy great power, and with thy strong hand.
GreekΚαὶ αὐτοὶ παῖδές σου καὶ λαός σου, οὓς ἐλυτρώσω ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου τῇ μεγάλῃ, καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρί σου τῇ κραταιᾷ.
KJVNow these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
JPSNow these are Thy servants and Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy great power, and by Thy strong hand.
11
ThomsonTurn not away, I beseech Thee, O Lord. But let Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy children, who desire to fear Thy name: and prosper, I beseech Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him favour in the sight of this man.
BrentonTurn not away, I pray thee, O Lord, but let 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 cause him to find mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was the king's cup-bearer.
GreekΜὴ δὴ Κύριε, ἀλλὰ ἔστω τὸ οὖς σου προσέχον εἰς τὴν προσευχὴν τοῦ δούλου σου, καὶ εἰς τὴν προσευχὴν παίδων σου τῶν θελόντων φοβεῖσθαι τὸ ὄνομά σου· καὶ εὐόδωσον δὴ τῷ παιδί σου σήμερον, καὶ δὸς αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκτιρμοὺς ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τούτου· καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμην οἰνοχόος τῷ βασιλεῖ.
KJVO 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.
JPSO Lord, I beseech Thee, let now Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant, and to the prayer of Thy servants, who delight to fear Thy name; and prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.’ Now I was cupbearer to the king.