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They replied: “Those who survived the captivity and remained in the province are in dire distress and badly demoralized. The wall of Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” Upon hearing this, I sat down and wept,[a] mourning for several days while fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Then I offered this prayer: “O Lord, God of heaven, you are a great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of steadfast love with those who love him and obey his commandments.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 1:4 Sat down and wept: there was much for Nehemiah to be saddened by in Jerusalem. Walls represented safety for the people against intruders and a sense of independence and strength. The Jews needed to rebuild to gain a sense of control but were prevented from doing so by a previous edict (Ezr 4:6-23).

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.(A)

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.(B) For some days I mourned and fasted(C) and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said:

Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God,(D) who keeps his covenant of love(E) with those who love him and keep his commandments,

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