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Nehemiah 1:4

GriefPrayerFastingServing others

2 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 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 are burned with fire.”

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

5 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 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.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
KJV
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,
WEB
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and mourned several days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
ASV
And 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,
DARBY
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat and wept, and mourned for days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of the heavens,
BLB
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,
ÅB
Da jeg hørte denne tidende, satte jeg meg ned og gråt og sørget dag etter dag, og jeg fastet og ba for himmelens Guds åsyn.
OTB
Da jeg hørte disse ordene, satte jeg meg ned og gråt, sørget i flere dager. Jeg fastet og ba for himmelens Gud.
B1930
Da jeg hørte denne tidende, satte jeg mig ned og gråt og sørget dag efter dag, og jeg fastet og bad for himmelens Guds åsyn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Daniel 9:3

    So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

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  • Psalms 137:1

    By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

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  • Ezra 10:1

    While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.

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  • Psalms 69:9–10

    because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

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  • Psalms 102:13–14

    You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor— the appointed time has come.

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  • Nehemiah 2:4

    “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven

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  • Zephaniah 3:18

    “I will gather those among you who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

    Read in context

  • Daniel 2:18

    urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

    Read in context